[Bill Russell]

No question that Trump has been successful in building on what his father passed to him. But his success should be placed in context. He greatly benefited from many advantages (education, capital, contacts, etc) that truly self-made men do not have. Men like my grandfather, who started with nothing and built successful businesses on a third grade education. In addition, Trump is well known for using all the advantages of legal leverage (eminent domain) and crony capitalism and political contacts to garner many of his advantages while crushing private citizens. He has repeatedly lied throughout this campaign.

[Robert DeLong]

Yet I can almost guarantee your grandfather would admit that an ambition to succeed is what they share in common. Starting from a position of wealth, often is interpreted as a leg up, but I have known many kids of super wealthy people who turned out unsuccessful. There were several reasons for this, but the overriding thing was that they lacked motivation. Instead they were content to sit on their laurels and reap what their ancestors before them had provided. The other reason was they felt obligated to succeed and resisted that with fervor.

But indeed, kudos to your grandfather. Truly a self made man who was lucky enough to live during a time in this country where self determination had a better chance of achieving success.