1989 SPECIAL REPORT: TRUMP MERV

MERV GRIFFIN is headed for a 2:30 appointment with the crown prince of Manhattan real estate in New York Citys Trump Tower. Thats the glassy skyscraper at 5th Avenue and 56th Street, not to be confused with Trump Plaza over on 3rd, near Bloomingdales, or Trump Parc, theart nouveaucondominium complex on Central Park South where 4 million buys a threebedroom apartment. Trump Tower is the one with a sixstory pink marble atrium and an 80foot waterfall; theres a Cartier store and a Bonwit Tellers in the lobby. You cant miss the towerits always packed. Against the best wishes of his advisers, Griffin has agreed to meet Donald Trump at Trumps office. This is a delicate business negotiation, the advisers warned, and delicate business negotiations should not take place on your opponents home turf. Griffin just smiled. As he boards the security elevator to Trumps 26thfloor office, Griffin passes Trumps face on a poster advertising his bestselling book, Trump: The Art of the Deal.