Roy Cohn, a controversial New York lawyer whose legal and political tactics have left a lasting impact on American power dynamics, is the subject of a new comprehensive biography, *American Scoundrel*, authored by Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark. The book traces Cohn’s rise from his early days as a young prosecutor in the 1950s to his role as a mentor to Donald Trump, illustrating how Cohn’s aggressive and unorthodox methods shaped the tactics of the 45th and 47th president.
Born in the Bronx in 1927, Cohn quickly rose through the legal ranks, graduating from law school by age 20 and passing the bar a year later. His early notoriety came as a prosecutor during the Rosenberg espionage trial in which Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted and executed for spying on behalf of the Soviet Union. Cohn went on to serve as chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations during the height of the 1950s anti-communist “Red Scare.” In this role, he became known for his aggressive pursuit of alleged communists and gay government employees, the latter campaign being part of the so-called “Lavender Scare.”
Cohn’s personal life contrasted starkly with his public persona. Despite his role in persecuting gay individuals, he was himself gay and died of an AIDS-related illness in 1986, though publicly he claimed to suffer from liver cancer. His complex and contentious legacy is encapsulated on his panel in the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which labels him a “Bully. Coward. Victim.”
The biography delves into Cohn’s later years, during which he wielded influence from a townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He represented prominent organized crime figures, including Anthony Salerno and John Gotti, while cultivating political connections that secured large financial benefits such as tax breaks for developers including Donald Trump. The authors argue that Cohn’s mentorship profoundly influenced Trump’s approach to public relations and legal strategy, emphasizing relentless counterattacks and manipulation of narrative over strict adherence to the law.
Bird, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, originally did not intend to write about Cohn until the political prominence of Trump revealed the degree to which Cohn’s methods had permeated American politics. In interviews, Bird noted that Cohn taught Trump to prioritize image control and to never admit defeat, strategies that have become hallmarks of Trump’s public approach.
The book situates Cohn within a broader context of power brokers like Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson, but distinguishes him by highlighting his exercise of power devoid of any higher purpose, characterizing it as “power for power’s sake.” Critics of Cohn view him as embodying a model of political and legal tactics rooted in ruthlessness and ethical flexibility.
*American Scoundrel* draws on a diverse range of sources, including newly uncovered archival materials and perspectives from actors and cultural figures who have engaged with Cohn’s legacy in recent media portrayals. While the book presents a detailed and often unflattering portrait of Cohn’s character and methods, it underscores the enduring influence of his style and strategies in contemporary American politics.
The biography offers a cautionary examination of the life of a man whose influence continues to reverberate, particularly through the political style and ethos of Donald Trump. It suggests that the current political landscape in the United States is, in significant part, shaped by the legacy of Roy Cohn’s approach to law, media, and power.