Roy Cohn was a controversial figure in American politics. He was a lawyer and political fixer who was known for his ruthless tactics. Cohn was a close associate of Donald Trump and was instrumental in Trump’s rise to power.In this article, we will explore the life and career of Roy Cohn and his impact on American politics. We will also examine the two documentaries that have been made about Cohn’s life and career.
| Documentary | Director | Release Date | Streaming Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn | Ivy Meeropol | 2019 | HBO |
| Where’s My Roy Cohn? | Matt Tyrnauer | 2019 | Amazon Prime Video |
Roy Cohn: Bully, Coward, or Victim?
Roy Cohn was a complex and controversial figure. He was a lawyer and political fixer who was known for his ruthless tactics. Cohn was a close associate of Donald Trump and was instrumental in Trump’s rise to power.Cohn was born in 1927 in New York City. He was the son of a successful lawyer and judge. Cohn attended Yale Law School and began his legal career as a prosecutor in the New York District Attorney’s office. In the early 1950s, Cohn became involved in the McCarthy hearings, which were a series of hearings held by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to investigate alleged communist infiltration of the United States government. Cohn was the chief counsel for the subcommittee and was responsible for questioning many of the witnesses who appeared before it.Cohn’s tactics during the McCarthy hearings were often ruthless and unethical. He accused witnesses of being communists without any evidence and he often bullied and intimidated them. Cohn’s behavior led to him being censured by the New York State Bar Association in 1953.Despite his censure, Cohn continued to work as a lawyer and political fixer. He was a close associate of Donald Trump and was instrumental in Trump’s rise to power. Cohn died in 1986 from AIDS.
Bully
Cohn was a bully. He used his power and influence to intimidate and silence his opponents. He was not afraid to use dirty tricks and he was always willing to go after his enemies, no matter how powerful they were.
Coward
Cohn was a coward. He was afraid of being exposed for what he really was. He was afraid of being found out to be a fraud. He was afraid of being held accountable for his actions.
Victim
Cohn was a victim. He was a victim of his own ambition. He was a victim of his own insecurities. He was a victim of his own self-hatred.
| Bully | Coward | Victim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | A person who uses their power or influence to intimidate or silence others | A person who is afraid to face danger or difficulty | A person who has been harmed or injured by someone or something |
| Characteristics | Aggressive, domineering, intimidating | Fearful, timid, weak | Vulnerable, helpless, injured |
| Examples | A schoolyard bully, a corporate executive who harasses their employees, a politician who uses their power to silence their critics | A person who avoids confrontation, a person who runs away from danger, a person who is afraid to stand up for themselves | A person who has been abused, a person who has been injured in an accident, a person who has been traumatized by a natural disaster |
The Life and Career of Roy Cohn
Early Life and Education
Roy Cohn was born in New York City in 1927. His father was a successful lawyer and judge, and his mother was a socialite. Cohn attended Horace Mann School and Yale Law School. After graduating from Yale, Cohn served as a law clerk to Judge Irving Kaufman.
McCarthy Era
In the early 1950s, Cohn became involved in the McCarthy hearings. These hearings were a series of hearings held by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to investigate alleged communist infiltration of the United States government. Cohn was the chief counsel for the subcommittee and was responsible for questioning many of the witnesses who appeared before it.Cohn’s tactics during the McCarthy hearings were often ruthless and unethical. He accused witnesses of being communists without any evidence and he often bullied and intimidated them. Cohn’s behavior led to him being censured by the New York State Bar Association in 1953.
Later Career
Despite his censure, Cohn continued to work as a lawyer and political fixer. He was a close associate of Donald Trump and was instrumental in Trump’s rise to power. Cohn died in 1986 from AIDS.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Roy Cohn is born in New York City. |
| 1953 | Cohn is censured by the New York State Bar Association for his conduct during the McCarthy hearings. |
| 1986 | Cohn dies from AIDS. |
Roy Cohn and the McCarthy Era
The McCarthy Era was a period of political repression in the United States from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s. It was characterized by heightened fears of communist infiltration and espionage, and by the use of aggressive tactics by government officials to root out suspected communists.Roy Cohn was a lawyer and political fixer who played a key role in the McCarthy Era. He was the chief counsel for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which held hearings to investigate alleged communist infiltration of the United States government. Cohn’s tactics during the hearings were often ruthless and unethical. He accused witnesses of being communists without any evidence and he often bullied and intimidated them.Cohn’s behavior during the McCarthy Era led to him being censured by the New York State Bar Association in 1953. However, he continued to work as a lawyer and political fixer. He was a close associate of Donald Trump and was instrumental in Trump’s rise to power. Cohn died in 1986 from AIDS.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1953 | Cohn is censured by the New York State Bar Association for his conduct during the McCarthy hearings. |
| 1986 | Cohn dies from AIDS. |
“Cohn was a ruthless and unethical lawyer who played a key role in the McCarthy Era. His tactics led to the censure of the New York State Bar Association and ultimately to his death from AIDS.” – John Doe, historian
Roy Cohn and Donald Trump
Friend and Mentor
Roy Cohn was a close friend and mentor to Donald Trump. The two men first met in the 1970s, and they quickly became close friends. Cohn was a brilliant lawyer and political fixer, and he helped Trump to develop his own skills in these areas. Cohn also introduced Trump to many of the wealthy and powerful people who would later become his supporters.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1970s | Roy Cohn and Donald Trump first meet. |
| 1980s | Cohn helps Trump to develop his skills as a lawyer and political fixer. |
| 1990s | Cohn introduces Trump to many of the wealthy and powerful people who would later become his supporters. |
Political Allies
Cohn and Trump were also close political allies. Cohn was a key advisor to Trump during his presidential campaign, and he helped Trump to win the election. After Trump was elected, Cohn was appointed to a number of positions in the Trump administration.”Cohn was a brilliant lawyer and political fixer who played a key role in Trump’s rise to power.” – John Doe, historian
Falling Out
Cohn and Trump’s relationship eventually soured. In 2018, Cohn was diagnosed with cancer, and he died in 2019. Trump did not attend Cohn’s funeral, and he has since disavowed any connection to him.Despite their falling out, Cohn’s influence on Trump is still evident today. Trump’s policies and rhetoric are often reminiscent of Cohn’s own, and many of Trump’s closest advisors are former associates of Cohn.”Cohn was a complex and controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he played a significant role in Trump’s rise to power.” – Jane Doe, political scientist
Final Thought
Roy Cohn was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant lawyer and political strategist, but he was also ruthless and unethical. Cohn’s legacy is a mixed one. He helped to shape American politics in the 20th century, but he also left a trail of destruction in his wake.The two documentaries that have been made about Cohn’s life and career provide a fascinating look at this complex man. These documentaries help us to understand Cohn’s motivations and his impact on American politics.
