Roy Cohn: A Lesson in Ruthlessness and Corruption
Roy Cohn is a name that has become synonymous with ruthlessness, manipulation, and ethical indifference. Over the course of his career, Cohn left an indelible mark on American political, legal, and business landscapes, often in the most controversial and malign ways. From his early dealings with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the notorious anti-communist “witch hunts” of the 1950s to his later role as a mentor to Donald Trump, Cohn’s life is a study in the relentless pursuit of power and influence, regardless of the human cost.
Early Life and Ambition
Born in 1927 to a wealthy Jewish family in the Bronx, New York, Roy Marcus Cohn was groomed for a career in law and politics from an early age. His father, Albert Cohn, was a respected judge, and Roy’s upbringing was one of privilege and high expectations. Brilliant and determined, he graduated from Columbia Law School at the young age of 20 and quickly made a name for himself as a formidable attorney. However, it was not intellectual brilliance that defined his career, but rather an ambition unmoored from ethical considerations.
Cohn’s early career in the Department of Justice was marked by his involvement in the espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. In what became one of the most infamous trials of the Cold War, the Rosenbergs were convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union and were executed in 1953. Cohn played a key role in securing the death penalty for both Julius and Ethel, boasting later that he had pressured the judge to deliver the harshest possible sentence. This victory, achieved at the cost of dubious legal tactics, catapulted Cohn into the national spotlight and positioned him as a trusted advisor to one of the era’s most dangerous demagogues: Senator Joseph McCarthy.
The McCarthy Era: A Partnership in Paranoia
The 1950s in the United States were marked by an intense fear of communism, and no figure exploited this fear more aggressively than Joseph McCarthy. The Republican senator from Wisconsin, with Roy Cohn at his side, spearheaded what came to be known as the Red Scare—a campaign of aggressive investigations and accusations aimed at rooting out alleged communists from government, entertainment, academia, and beyond. Cohn became McCarthy’s chief counsel in the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and together they conducted a series of high-profile hearings that destroyed countless lives.
Cohn’s methods during the McCarthy hearings were notoriously underhanded. He was known for his aggressive interrogation style, often relying on innuendo and guilt by association rather than hard evidence. Accusations of communism were used to ruin careers, particularly in Hollywood and government, where individuals were blacklisted and ostracised based on nothing more than rumour or personal vendettas. Among the most infamous targets of Cohn and McCarthy’s attacks were State Department officials and military personnel, many of whom were unjustly accused of disloyalty.
One of the most controversial incidents of Cohn’s career during this time was his involvement in the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954. Cohn, who had developed an inappropriate relationship with his aide, G. David Schine, pressured the Army to grant Schine special treatment after he was drafted. When the Army refused, McCarthy and Cohn turned their investigative efforts against the institution, accusing it of harbouring communist sympathisers. The hearings became a public spectacle and, ultimately, McCarthy’s overreach led to his political downfall. However, Cohn, though publicly disgraced, managed to avoid the worst consequences, continuing to operate within the shadows of American power.
Legal Career and Corruption
Following the collapse of McCarthyism, Cohn returned to private legal practice in New York City, where he cultivated a reputation as a “fixer” for the rich and powerful. He became infamous for representing organised crime figures, corporate tycoons, and anyone else willing to pay for his services, which often included unethical or illegal tactics. Cohn prided himself on his ability to manipulate the legal system to achieve his clients’ aims, no matter how dubious those aims might be.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Cohn amassed a fortune and wielded immense influence. His ability to operate within the murkier realms of law and business attracted the attention of powerful figures, including New York real estate developers Fred and Donald Trump. Cohn’s relationship with the Trump family would come to define the latter part of his career, shaping not only his personal fortunes but also those of the man who would later become president.
The Trump Connection: Mentor to a Future President
In the mid-1970s, Fred Trump, the patriarch of the Trump real estate empire, and his son Donald were embroiled in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing them of discriminatory practices in their housing developments. Specifically, the Trumps were accused of refusing to rent apartments to Black tenants, a violation of the Fair Housing Act. It was at this moment that Roy Cohn entered their lives.
Cohn, with his history of aggressive legal tactics and disdain for traditional ethical boundaries, advised the Trumps to counter-sue the federal government for $100 million, accusing it of defamation. This audacious move, though ultimately unsuccessful, exemplified the kind of combative, take-no-prisoners approach that Cohn instilled in Donald Trump. Cohn’s legal strategy in the case was not about winning in the courtroom—it was about creating a spectacle, muddying the waters, and overwhelming the opposition with bluster and threats. This approach became a hallmark of Trump’s own business and political dealings in the decades to come.
Cohn and Trump developed a close personal relationship, with Cohn becoming a mentor to the young real estate magnate. Cohn taught Trump how to use legal threats, media manipulation, and political connections to achieve his goals, regardless of legality or ethics. In return, Trump provided Cohn with access to the world of high-powered New York society. Together, they navigated a world of money, power, and influence, often at the expense of those who stood in their way.
Later Life and Downfall
As Cohn’s influence grew, so too did the accusations of unethical and illegal behaviour. In the 1980s, he was disbarred for professional misconduct, including unethical behaviour, lying to clients, and witness tampering. His fall from grace in the legal world was swift, though Cohn remained unrepentant, continuing to operate in business and politics until the very end.
Roy Cohn’s final years were marked by a tragic irony. Having been a vocal critic of homosexuals during the McCarthy era and an opponent of gay rights throughout his career, Cohn himself was a closeted homosexual. In 1986, he died of complications related to AIDS, though he denied the diagnosis publicly until his death. His refusal to acknowledge his illness, combined with his public stance against LGBTQ+ rights, underscored the contradictions and hypocrisies that had defined his life.
Cohn was buried in Union Field Cemetery in Queens, New York. His tombstone describes him as a lawyer and a patriot. His AIDS Memorial Quilt panel is white with "Roy Cohn. Bully. Coward. Victim" in black letters, with "bully" in red and "coward" in yellow.
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