Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Roy Cohn

Roy Marcus Cohn (February 20, 1927 – August 2, 1986) was an American lawyer who rose to prominence as a federal in the espionage trial of , securing their conviction and execution for transmitting atomic secrets to the during the early . Appointed chief counsel to U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy's subcommittee on investigations in 1953, Cohn played a central role in probing alleged communist infiltration of the U.S. government and military, employing aggressive interrogation tactics that intensified the Second Red Scare but contributed to McCarthy's eventual censure by the . In private practice after 1954, Cohn built a high-profile law firm representing figures, developers, and celebrities, while wielding influence as a political fixer through connections in both parties; he notably mentored starting in the 1970s, advising him on countering a federal housing discrimination lawsuit by aggressive litigation and public denial, principles Trump later applied in business and politics. Cohn's career was defined by his unyielding combativeness and willingness to exploit legal and media pressures, earning him loyalty from clients but enmity from adversaries who viewed his methods as unethical. Facing multiple investigations, he was disbarred in June 1986 for defrauding a dying client of $100,000 by misappropriating trust funds, among other professional misconduct charges, just weeks before his death. Cohn, who maintained a homosexual lifestyle amid the era's stigmas, succumbed to AIDS-related complications at age 59, publicly insisting to the end that he suffered from rather than acknowledging the disease despite evident symptoms and treatment.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Childhood

Roy Cohn was born on February 20, 1927, at Woman's Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, as the only child of Albert C. Cohn and Dora Marcus Cohn. His parents were part of New York's Jewish elite; his father, Albert Cohn (1885–1959), served as a justice on the New York State Supreme Court and held significant influence within the Democratic Party, including roles in Tammany Hall politics. Albert had married Dora in 1924, integrating into her family's established wealth from banking interests on the Marcus side. Dora Marcus Cohn (1892–1967), Cohn's mother, came from a family that amassed a fortune in before suffering losses during the 1929 stock market crash, when their bank failed. Despite this setback, the family maintained an affluent lifestyle, with Dora actively involved in women's organizations and local precinct activities in . Cohn's great-uncle on his mother's side, (originally Cohn), co-founded the , known for model trains, which added to the family's connections in business circles. Raised in a privileged environment amid the economic turbulence of the , Cohn experienced a sheltered childhood in , doted on by his mother, who exerted strong influence over his early years. The family's Jewish heritage shaped his upbringing, though specific details of religious observance remain limited in primary accounts. This background immersed young Cohn in worlds of , , and from an early age, fostering his precocious interest in dynamics.

Academic Achievements and Legal Training

Roy Cohn attended the elite preparatory institutions Fieldston School and in , where he demonstrated early academic aptitude. Following this, he enrolled at Columbia College, completing his in 1946 at age 19. Cohn then entered , accelerating his coursework to graduate with a (LL.B.) in 1947, still at age 20—a feat enabled by his prior completion of undergraduate requirements and the era's flexible academic pacing for high achievers. This rapid progression through Columbia's programs underscored Cohn's intellectual precocity, though contemporary accounts emphasize his family's influence in facilitating such advancement rather than standout scholastic honors or publications. Upon graduation, Cohn could not immediately practice due to New York's age requirement for bar admission; he waited until turning 21 in February 1948 to pass the bar exam and gain entry to the state bar. His legal training thus centered on Columbia's rigorous , which at the time integrated instruction with emphasis on constitutional and —preparing him for subsequent roles in public prosecution.

Early Legal Career

Assistant U.S. Attorney Appointments

Roy Cohn was admitted to the bar in at age 21 and soon thereafter appointed as an in the Southern District of , under Irving H. Saypol. This position came shortly after Cohn's graduation from in 1947, leveraging his family's judicial connections—his father, Albert Cohn, served as a justice on the . At the time, Cohn was not yet eligible to vote, as the remained 21 until 1971, underscoring his precocious entry into federal prosecution amid postwar concerns over Soviet espionage. In this role, Cohn focused on high-profile cases targeting alleged Communist infiltration, assisting in the 1949 trial of eleven senior leaders prosecuted under the for conspiracy to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. The defendants, including and ten others, were convicted after a nine-month , with sentences ranging from three to five years; Cohn's involvement helped secure these outcomes through aggressive evidentiary strategies emphasizing wartime sedition risks. Cohn's tenure, spanning roughly 1948 to early 1951, positioned him as a key player in the Department's anti-subversion efforts, where he developed tactics for leveraging classified and witness testimony in espionage prosecutions. His work under Saypol, who prioritized Communist threats following revelations of Soviet atomic spying, reflected the era's causal prioritization of over procedural leniency, though critics later questioned the prosecutorial zeal's alignment with norms. By , Cohn's reputation for securing convictions in politically charged cases had elevated his profile, paving the way for his lead role in the trial later that year.

Initial Prosecutions and Rising Prominence

In 1948, shortly after his admission to the bar at age 21, Roy Cohn joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of as an assistant federal prosecutor under U.S. Attorney Irving H. Saypol. His early assignments focused on cases involving alleged communist activities, reflecting the intensifying scrutiny of domestic subversion. Cohn contributed to the high-profile prosecution of eleven leaders of the , charged under the for conspiring to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. The trial, which began in 1949 in New York federal court, resulted in guilty verdicts for all defendants on October 14, 1951, following testimony from undercover informants and evidence of party advocacy for Marxist-Leninist revolution. These convictions, upheld on appeal, marked a significant early victory in federal efforts to curb communist organizing, with Cohn handling aspects of witness examination and case preparation. Another key case was the 1950 perjury trial of William W. Remington, a former U.S. Commerce Department economist accused of lying to a about his communist affiliations. Cohn, as lead assistant prosecutor, presented testimony from witnesses including , who alleged Remington's involvement in Soviet espionage networks. Remington was convicted on two counts of on January 23, 1951, receiving a three-year sentence, though he was later retried and reconvicted after a successful on procedural grounds. These successes established Cohn's reputation for tenacity and effectiveness in anti-communist litigation, earning him promotion to chief assistant U.S. attorney by and positioning him for lead roles in subsequent cases. At age 24, his rapid ascent highlighted his aggressive courtroom tactics, including rigorous cross-examinations and emphasis on credibility amid broader concerns over Soviet infiltration validated by decrypted Venona cables.

Anti-Communist Prosecutions

The Rosenberg Espionage Trial

The espionage trial of began on March 6, 1951, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of , charging the couple with conspiracy to commit by passing classified information, including atomic bomb secrets, to the . Roy Cohn, then a 24-year-old assistant U.S. attorney under prosecutor Irving Saypol, played a key role in the prosecution team, conducting examinations of critical witnesses and advocating aggressively for severe penalties amid fears of Soviet infiltration. Central evidence came from Ethel's brother, , a machinist at who testified that recruited him in 1944 to spy, providing sketches and data on the atomic bomb's implosion lens and high-explosive lenses, which Greenglass delivered via courier . Cohn directly questioned Greenglass during , eliciting details of Julius's role in relaying this information to Soviet contacts, corroborated by Gold's confession and FBI investigations revealing a broader ring. Declassified decrypts later confirmed Julius as a Soviet agent codenamed "Liberal" or "Antenna," coordinating espionage including atomic secrets that aided Soviet bomb development by 1949. Ethel's involvement rested primarily on Greenglass's testimony that she typed Julius's notes from his reports, though Greenglass later admitted in 2001 altering his account from grand jury testimony to implicate her more directly under pressure to reduce his own sentence. Cohn and the prosecution portrayed her as an active participant to leverage pressure on Julius to name co-conspirators, a tactic reflective of the era's anti-communist prosecutions where family members were sometimes charged to extract cooperation. Recent declassifications, including a 2021 memo from prosecutor Myles Lane, indicate Ethel was aware of and urged her husband's activities but did not directly transmit secrets, suggesting her conviction aligned with conspiracy charges yet her execution was disproportionate. The jury convicted , , and co-defendant of conspiracy to commit on March 29, 1951, after a seven-day , with Judge sentencing them to death on April 5, 1951, citing the gravity of aiding a wartime . Cohn lobbied vigorously for , reportedly communicating with Kaufman and emphasizing the death penalty's deterrent value against , a stance that propelled his national profile despite later criticisms of prosecutorial overreach. Appeals failed, and the Rosenbergs were executed by at Prison on June 19, 1953, marking the first U.S. civilians put to death for during peacetime. While 's guilt is undisputed based on multiple sources, Ethel's case highlights tensions in evidentiary standards, with Cohn's tactics exemplifying the prosecutorial zeal that defined McCarthy-era pursuits.

Service as Chief Counsel to Joseph McCarthy

In January 1953, Roy Cohn resigned from the U.S. Department of Justice to join Senator as chief counsel to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, earning an annual salary of $11,700. McCarthy, who chaired the subcommittee, tasked Cohn with leading probes into alleged communist infiltration within government agencies, including the State Department, the Voice of America, and the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Cohn directed staff efforts to identify and interrogate individuals suspected of communist sympathies or affiliations, often employing aggressive tactics such as demanding loyalty oaths and pursuing leads from FBI reports. A pivotal aspect of Cohn's tenure involved the recruitment of , a 26-year-old associate and friend, as an unpaid consultant to the subcommittee in 1953. Following Schine's induction into the U.S. Army in November 1953, Cohn and sought preferential treatment for him, including requests for Schine's assignment to duties, exemption from routine tasks, and access to special privileges like private quarters and laundry services. These demands escalated into public accusations by the Army in March 1954, charging and Cohn with using subcommittee influence to pressure military officials, thereby sparking the Army-McCarthy hearings. The Army-McCarthy hearings, spanning 36 days from April 22 to June 17, 1954, were broadcast on television to an estimated audience of 20 million viewers and marked a in Cohn's service. During the proceedings, Cohn faced intense scrutiny for his role in the Schine matter, including documented instances of threats to Army personnel and withhold contracts unless demands were met. The hearings culminated in Army counsel Joseph Welch's rebuke of on June 9, 1954—"Have you no sense of decency, sir?"—which amplified public criticism of the subcommittee's methods and contributed to 's in December 1954. Cohn resigned from the subcommittee shortly after the hearings concluded, amid the fallout that diminished 's influence.

Private Practice in New York

Building a Power Broker Network

Following his resignation from Senator Joseph 's staff in the summer of 1954 amid the Senate's of McCarthy, Roy Cohn returned to and acquired the established firm Saxe & Bacon, reorienting it toward his aggressive style of practice. This move capitalized on Cohn's lingering national profile from high-profile anti-communist prosecutions, enabling him to draw clients who valued results over conventional ethics. Cohn leveraged his father Albert C. Cohn's longstanding influence as a New York State Supreme Court justice and Bronx Democratic Party operative to penetrate local power centers, securing access to judges, prosecutors, and political figures essential for case outcomes. These familial ties, combined with Cohn's own contacts from federal service—including residual rapport with FBI elements—facilitated informal interventions, such as influencing bail decisions or plea negotiations, which burnished his reputation among clients facing legal jeopardy. In the late 1950s and 1960s, Cohn expanded his influence by representing associates, including figures from New York's major families, thereby embedding himself in the city's underworld ecosystem where legal fixes and protection rackets intersected with legitimate business. This clientele provided reciprocal favors, such as introductions to union leaders and developers reliant on labor stability, while Cohn's courtroom tenacity—marked by relentless cross-examinations and counter-suits—deterred adversaries and amplified his fixer persona. By the 1970s, Cohn's web of alliances spanned City Hall, courtrooms, and elite social circles, where he hosted gatherings at his townhouse to broker deals and extract loyalty, often rewarding allies with and punishing foes through orchestrated scrutiny. This reciprocal system, rooted in personal leverage rather than institutional reform, positioned Cohn as an indispensable intermediary for navigating New York's intertwined political, criminal, and commercial spheres.

Key Clients, Cases, and Legal Tactics

In his private practice in , established after leaving Senator Joseph McCarthy's staff in 1954, Roy Cohn built a clientele that spanned business tycoons, figures, and institutional entities, leveraging his connections and reputation for aggressive advocacy. Key clients included real estate developer , whom Cohn began representing in 1973 amid a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging in apartment rentals; Cohn advised Trump to countersue the government for $100 million in , a move that pressured a 1975 settlement requiring nondiscriminatory practices but no admission of wrongdoing. Other prominent clients were New York Yankees principal owner , for whom Cohn handled legal matters related to business and political controversies, and leaders of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, including in property and financial disputes. Cohn also represented major organized crime leaders, such as Genovese family boss Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno and Gambino family head Paul Castellano, providing counsel in racketeering investigations and trials during the 1970s and 1980s. For Salerno, Cohn's efforts included challenging federal probes into labor union corruption tied to the Lucchese and Genovese families, though Salerno was later convicted in the 1986 Mafia Commission Trial after Cohn's death. These representations drew scrutiny from federal authorities, who viewed Cohn as a "consigliere" to mob interests, but he maintained that his role was strictly legal defense without involvement in criminal activity. Cohn's legal tactics emphasized unrelenting aggression and psychological leverage, instructing clients to reject settlements, deny allegations outright, and respond to lawsuits with aggressive countersuits to shift pressure onto opponents. He advocated exploiting procedural delays, campaigns, and personal attacks on judges or prosecutors to undermine adversary credibility, as seen in the DOJ case where countersuing escalated attention and negotiation leverage. These methods often yielded favorable outcomes, such as out-of-court resolutions or reduced charges for clients, but relied on operating in ethical gray areas, including witness intimidation allegations that later factored into Cohn's 1986 disbarment. Cohn summarized his approach as prioritizing victory over conventional norms: "I don't care what the law is; tell me who the judge is."

Political Involvement

Backing Conservative Campaigns

Cohn actively participated in political campaigns aligned with conservative interests, particularly through his influence in New York Republican circles and national Republican efforts. As a partner in the law firm Curran, Mahoney, Cohn & Stim—led by New York State Republican chairman Thomas J. Curran—Cohn facilitated connections between donors and candidates, leveraging his network to advance Republican objectives. His activism extended beyond business interests, as he stated a personal affinity for politics without ulterior motives. In local New York politics, Cohn backed insurgent candidates challenging reformist dominance, often employing aggressive strategies reminiscent of his earlier prosecutorial tactics. Although registered as a , Cohn tended to support presidents and aligned with anti-reform factions that resisted shifts in party structures. His efforts included serving as a conduit for big-ticket donors to conservative causes, enhancing fundraising for aligned campaigns. Cohn's political maneuvering also involved the Western Goals Foundation, an anti-communist organization he joined in 1979, which advocated for conservative policies and supported candidates opposing perceived leftist influences. These activities underscored his role as a fixer prioritizing power dynamics over strict partisanship, while consistently favoring outcomes that countered progressive reforms.

Ties to Ronald Reagan

Roy Cohn developed connections to during the latter's 1980 presidential , where Cohn provided support and cultivated relationships within the emerging administration. These ties facilitated Cohn's access to the , including a documented meeting on January 18, 1983, alongside media executive and attorney Thomas Bolan. Cohn also attended receptions hosted by , such as one for the Scholarship Committee in the Blue Room. Cohn leveraged these relationships to lobby on behalf of clients, notably influencing the Reagan administration's nomination of —sister of —to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in November 1983. This appointment, confirmed by the in 1983, exemplified Cohn's role in securing federal judicial positions through personal networks rather than formal channels. Cohn reportedly pressed officials for additional favors, including an unsuccessful bid to position in nuclear arms negotiations with the . Cohn's proximity to further underscored his influence, with accounts describing her as a personal acquaintance who hosted or greeted him at events. Despite Cohn's earlier Democratic affiliations, his alignment with Reagan-era reflected pragmatic power-brokering, though his health decline from AIDS limited sustained involvement; he died in August 1986 amid ongoing proceedings. These interactions positioned Cohn as a behind-the-scenes operator bridging elites and conservatives during the early .

Mentorship of Donald Trump

Roy Cohn first became associated with in October 1973, when Trump and his father, , retained Cohn to defend their family business, Trump Management Corporation, against a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging systematic in renting apartments at 39 properties in . Cohn responded aggressively by filing a $100 million countersuit against the government for and , a tactic that exemplified his philosophy of counterattacking rather than defending passively. The countersuit was ultimately dismissed, but the case settled in 1975 with Trump Management agreeing to implement fair housing practices without admitting guilt, allowing Trump to publicly frame the outcome as a victory over federal overreach. Following the settlement, Cohn served as Trump's personal attorney and informal mentor for over a decade, providing counsel on real estate ventures, litigation strategies, and navigating New York's power structures through frequent consultations—often 15 to 20 times per day on matters ranging from deal negotiations to personal affairs. Cohn facilitated key introductions to influential figures, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and hosted Trump at exclusive venues like Le Club, enhancing his social and business networks. In business dealings, Cohn advised on high-stakes projects, such as Trump's 1975 acquisition of the dilapidated Commodore Hotel, which was redeveloped into the Grand Hyatt with a 40-year tax abatement secured in 1976—the first such incentive under New York City's urban development policies—propelling Trump's Manhattan expansion. Cohn's mentorship emphasized combative legal and rhetorical tactics, instructing to "attack, counterattack, and never apologize," to deny allegations outright, and to prioritize leverage over legal merits—famously summarized in his quip, "Don’t tell me what the law is, tell me who the is." These principles influenced 's approach to disputes, including countersuing opponents and refusing settlements without concessions, as seen in subsequent deals like the tax abatement in the early 1980s. Cohn also provided practical guidance, such as drafting a for 's 1977 marriage to Zelníčková. attended events with Cohn, including the 1983 opening of , and later reflected on Cohn as a "total winner" who taught him to fight relentlessly until his mentor's decline. The relationship frayed in the mid-1980s as Cohn's health deteriorated following his 1984 AIDS diagnosis, which he publicly attributed to ; Trump reduced contact and publicly distanced himself, reportedly viewing Cohn's vulnerability as a liability. Cohn died on August 2, 1986, with Trump possibly among the last to speak with him, though Trump ceased using Cohn's services by 1984 amid the latter's proceedings. Despite the personal rift, elements of Cohn's adversarial style persisted in Trump's business and political methods.

Private Life

Relationships and Personal Conduct

Cohn was born on February 20, 1927, in to , a of the with ties to the , and Dora Marcus, daughter of a wealthy banking family of Russian Jewish immigrants. His parents' marriage reportedly stemmed from a financial arrangement involving Dora's father bailing out Albert's failing business ventures, though the family maintained an affluent lifestyle in . Cohn had a distant relationship with his parents; his mother, described as domineering, exerted significant influence over his early career, while his father provided political connections but little emotional closeness. Cohn never married or had children, and he publicly denied being homosexual despite evidence of sexual relationships with men, insisting that such encounters did not constitute because of his dominant position of power. He frequented venues like in the 1970s and 1980s, often accompanied by male companions, yet rejected the label of gay, framing himself as heterosexual. One of his most notable personal associations was with , a wealthy heir and McCarthy committee investigator, beginning around 1951; the two traveled together on a 1953 European trip to purge communist influences from U.S. information libraries, prompting speculation of a romantic involvement fueled by Cohn's aggressive efforts to secure Schine preferential treatment after his army draft. Cohn and Schine remained in contact until Cohn's death, though Schine married Hope Page in 1955 and had seven children. In his private conduct, Cohn exhibited traits parallel to his professional ruthlessness, including fierce loyalty to a small inner circle—such as law partner Thomas Bolan and associate —but hypocrisy in persecuting homosexuals during McCarthy-era investigations while concealing his own orientation. He reportedly engaged in or facilitated tactics against perceived enemies, mirroring mafia-style he employed professionally, and maintained a facade of heteronormativity amid rumors of self-loathing over his Jewish and sexual identities. Cohn's blended opulent socializing with Studio 54 co-owners like and high-society figures, yet he shunned vulnerability, even in illness, prioritizing image over candor.

Hobbies and Extracurricular Pursuits

Cohn immersed himself in New York's vibrant nightlife during the 1970s and 1980s, frequenting exclusive clubs that served as hubs for the city's elite social scene. He was a regular patron of , the renowned discotheque famed for its hedonistic atmosphere, where he partied alongside celebrities, fashion designers, and co-owner amid the era's drug-fueled excesses. His pursuits extended to other underground venues, including the , where he appeared with Rubell and designer at performances and gatherings in 1979, reflecting his affinity for the and celebrity-infused . Cohn's involvement in these circles underscored a flamboyant leisure style that intertwined socializing with his broader quest for influence, though specific personal hobbies beyond such outings remain sparsely documented in contemporary accounts.

Controversies and Downfall

Accusations of Professional Misconduct

In 1982, the New York disciplinary authorities initiated proceedings against Cohn for professional misconduct in multiple matters, including client fund mismanagement and misrepresentations. These accusations centered on four distinct cases spanning from the late to the early , which a hearing panel investigated over four years before recommending in 1985. One accusation involved a 1967 from client Iva Schlesinger, a recent divorcée whom Cohn represented; he borrowed $100,000, issuing a at 8% interest, but later claimed it was an advance for future legal services, contradicting over 25 contemporaneous documents. Cohn did not repay the principal until 1984, after misconduct proceedings had commenced, prompting the court to deem his defense untruthful and unethical. A second case concerned the 1971 Pied Piper Yacht Charters , managed by Cohn's firm Saxe, Bacon & Bolan for client Fred A. amid an fraud action against Industrial Gear Manufacturing Co. The firm allegedly misappropriated $219,000 from the funds, violating duties to the client and opposing parties. The third accusation, described by the court as "particularly reprehensible," involved Cohn's 1975 interactions with dying client Lewis S. Rosenstiel, founder of , who suffered from advanced incapacity including vision loss and . While Rosenstiel was hospitalized and unable to manage his affairs, Cohn pressed him to execute a codicil to his will, arranging for witnesses (including nurses) and altering executors and beneficiaries in ways that benefited Cohn's interests or associates, despite Rosenstiel's documented incompetence. The fourth charge stemmed from Cohn's 1982 application to the District of Columbia Bar, where he falsely denied prior professional discipline and misrepresented facts about his practice. On June 24, 1986, the Appellate Division of the unanimously upheld all four charges, citing "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation" and ordering immediate , stating the evidence was "so compelling...as to leave us no recourse." Beyond these, Cohn faced earlier civil suits from former clients alleging overbilling and abandonment, as well as judicial reprimands for courtroom conduct, though none individually prompted . Federal investigations in the 1970s and 1980s probed related issues like and in business dealings, but these did not yield convictions before his death.

Disbarment Proceedings

In the fall of 1982, the initiated disbarment proceedings against Roy Cohn, charging him with professional misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the in four separate matters spanning from 1967 to 1982. The allegations included dishonesty, , deceit, and , prompting a multi-year review by a judicial disciplinary committee affiliated with the Appellate Division of the . The specific charges centered on: (1) borrowing $100,000 from client Iva Schlesinger in 1967 without repaying it until 1984, after the proceedings had commenced; (2) misappropriating $219,000 from an escrow account belonging to Pied Piper Yacht Charters Corporation in 1971, funds intended for stock fraud victims; (3) exerting undue pressure on dying client Lewis S. Rosenstiel in 1976 to sign documents altering control of his multimillion-dollar estate and will; and (4) submitting a false application for admission to the in July 1982 by concealing the pending New York disciplinary charges. Cohn's defense maintained his innocence, asserting that the transactions were approved by the involved parties or aligned with prior understandings, and he denied any intent to deceive. Hearings unfolded over several years, with the disciplinary committee recommending disbarment in mid-1985 based on findings of guilt in the core allegations. Cohn's legal team sought to suspend the process citing his deteriorating health—he had been hospitalized for over two years with what was publicly described as —though medical testimony in October 1985 highlighted his terminal condition without halting the case. A five-judge panel of the Appellate Division reviewed the evidence and, on June 23, 1986, unanimously ordered Cohn's effective immediately, removing his name from the roll of attorneys. The court characterized Cohn's actions as "highly unethical" and "unprofessional," deeming his testimony "untruthful, misleading, and evasive," with the Rosenstiel matter labeled "particularly reprehensible" due to the exploitation of a vulnerable client. was justified as essential to preserve public trust in the , overriding considerations of Cohn's long career or health status.

Final Illness and Death

In late 1984, Roy Cohn was diagnosed with AIDS but insisted publicly that his condition was , attributing symptoms including tumors to rather than HIV-related illness. He received early access to azidothymidine (AZT), an experimental drug initially tested for cancer but later recognized as the first antiretroviral therapy for AIDS, under the pretense of cancer treatment. Cohn repeatedly denied rumors of AIDS, emphasizing his heterosexual orientation and rejecting the disease's association with , even as his health deteriorated amid ongoing legal battles. By early 1986, Cohn's physician described his health as "very precarious" following months of treatment, with admissions to facilities like Good Samaritan Hospital for blood transfusions and chemotherapy. On June 23, 1986, a five-judge panel of the New York State Supreme Court's Appellate Division disbarred him for unethical conduct in multiple cases, including dishonesty and misrepresentation, just weeks before his death. His condition worsened rapidly thereafter, leading to hospitalization at New York University Medical Center, where he underwent treatment at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda for what he claimed was advancing liver cancer. Cohn died on August 2, 1986, at age 59, from AIDS-related complications, having maintained his denial of the disease until the end. Despite his assertions, medical and subsequent reporting confirmed AIDS as the cause, exacerbated by his refusal to acknowledge the amid the era's . His death occurred five weeks after , marking the end of a contentious career shadowed by professional and personal denials.

Legacy and Influence

Contributions to Anti-Communism and Conservatism

Cohn emerged as a key figure in mid-20th-century anti-communist efforts during his tenure as an assistant U.S. Attorney in . In 1951, at age 24, he served as a in the trial of , who were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage by transmitting atomic bomb secrets to the . Cohn advocated for the death penalty, arguing the gravity of their betrayal amid the and Soviet nuclear advancements; the Rosenbergs were convicted on March 29, 1951, and executed on June 19, 1953, marking a high-profile victory in countering Soviet infiltration. In January 1953, Cohn joined Senator Joseph McCarthy's staff as chief counsel to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, directing inquiries into communist subversion within federal agencies. Over the next 18 months, he led aggressive interrogations targeting suspected sympathizers in the State Department, , and U.S. Army, subpoenaing hundreds and compiling lists of alleged security risks. Cohn's partnership with McCarthy amplified public awareness of documented Soviet espionage networks, as later corroborated by declassified decrypts revealing over 300 U.S. spies, though his methods often blurred lines between evidence and innuendo, culminating in the televised Army-McCarthy hearings from April to June 1954. Cohn's anti-communist campaigns contributed to the broader conservative framework by institutionalizing vigilance against ideological threats, influencing tactics of confrontation and loyalty tests that persisted in . Post-government, he applied similar ruthlessness in private practice, defending clients against leftist accusations and advising conservative figures on leveraging media and legal pressure to counter perceived subversive influences, thereby embedding aggressive anti-leftism into conservatism's strategic .

Balanced Assessment of Criticisms

Criticisms of Roy Cohn frequently center on his aggressive tactics during the anti-communist campaigns of the early , portraying them as emblematic of McCarthyite excess that unjustly targeted individuals without sufficient evidence. However, declassified documents from the , which decrypted Soviet communications, substantiate the presence of extensive networks within the U.S. government, including figures like Julius Rosenberg, whom Cohn prosecuted effectively in 1951, securing a conviction based on testimony from co-conspirator and corroborated by later Soviet admissions. While Cohn's insistence on the death penalty for the Rosenbergs—executed on June 19, 1953—drew accusations of overzealousness, the gravity of secrets passed to the USSR accelerating its bomb development justified severe measures in the context of threats, as evidenced by the Rosenbergs' transmission of classified data confirmed in post-Cold War archives. Mainstream narratives often amplify these criticisms while minimizing the empirical reality of Soviet infiltration, reflecting a historical tendency in and to retroactively equate anti-communist vigilance with rather than causal responses to verifiable infiltration. In his role as chief counsel to Senator from 1953 to 1954, Cohn facilitated investigations that identified over 200 suspected communists in government positions, contributing to the removal of individuals with documented ties to Soviet intelligence, though some cases involved unsubstantiated allegations against homosexuals during the overlapping . Detractors, including left-leaning outlets, decry these efforts as a "witch-hunt" that chilled free speech, yet McCarthy's committee, with Cohn's involvement, exposed real subversives like State Department official John Service, whose pro-communist leanings were later validated by archival evidence. The Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954, where Cohn's personal favoritism toward draftee backfired, marked a turning point leading to McCarthy's censure, but this episode highlighted procedural overreach rather than wholesale fabrication; Cohn's defensive strategies, while combative, mirrored the high-stakes adversarial nature required against embedded threats, with outcomes including heightened of executive branch loyalty. Cohn's later disbarment by the New York Appellate Division on June 23, 1986—mere weeks before his death—stemmed from four instances of , including toward a terminally ill client, Lewis Rosenstiel, in estate matters and fabrication of documents in other cases, actions deemed "particularly reprehensible" by the court. These violations, occurring amid Cohn's battles with (later identified as AIDS-related), underscore a pattern of prioritizing client victories through expedient means, such as pressuring witnesses or misleading tribunals, which eroded professional standards. Nonetheless, Cohn's career-long success in defending high-profile clients, from mob figures to in the 1970s housing discrimination suit, demonstrates the efficacy of his confrontational style in navigating biased regulatory environments, where defensive aggression often yielded settlements favorable to business interests. Critics from establishment sources frame this as emblematic of , yet the disbarment's timing and focus on isolated ethical breaches overlook Cohn's broader contributions to conservative legal strategies that challenged entrenched bureaucracies, with empirical results in case outcomes validating his methods' utility despite normative lapses. Personal criticisms, including Cohn's private homosexuality juxtaposed against his public denunciations of "homosexual perverts" during McCarthy hearings, fuel charges of , amplified in cultural depictions that link his of AIDS until his 1986 death to broader character flaws. Such assessments, however, conflate private conduct with efficacy; Cohn's anti-communist zeal targeted security risks, not personal morality per se, and his influence on figures like emphasized unapologetic counterattacks against media and legal adversaries, a pragmatic to adversarial systems where restraint often disadvantages the . While ethical shortcuts warranted consequences, the preponderance of Cohn's lies in fortifying defenses against ideological threats, with criticisms frequently overstated by sources predisposed to vilify anti-leftist enforcers, as evidenced by selective historical amnesia regarding communism's documented casualties and infiltrations.

Enduring Impact on Legal and Political Strategies

Roy Cohn's mentorship of in the 1970s profoundly shaped Trump's approach to legal disputes and political confrontations, emphasizing relentless aggression over concession. Cohn advised Trump during the 1973 U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging in , urging a $100 million countersuit against the government rather than settlement, which instilled a philosophy of using litigation as a weapon to intimidate opponents. This tactic, though resulting in a 1975 without admission of guilt, reinforced Cohn's core rules: attack on all fronts, admit nothing, and claim victory regardless of outcome. Cohn's maxim of "attack, attack, attack" extended to political strategy, teaching clients to counter media scrutiny with claims and personal assaults rather than defense, a Trump applied in his business expansions and later presidential campaigns. Cohn facilitated Trump's entry into political circles, securing a $20 million tax abatement for in by leveraging connections and pressure tactics. He also introduced Trump to strategist , influencing long-term campaign operations. These strategies prioritized and endurance in battles, often prolonging conflicts to exhaust adversaries. Beyond Trump, Cohn's influence permeated conservative political networks through his representation of figures like and associations with Ronald Reagan's administration, promoting a combative style in anti-regulatory advocacy and media influence. Cohn's in 1986 for ethical violations, including defrauding a dying client, did not erase his tactical blueprint, which echoed in subsequent high-stakes legal maneuvers by protégés who viewed courts as arenas for dominance rather than justice. Empirical outcomes, such as Trump's survival of multiple impeachments and indictments via denial and counter-narratives, demonstrate the strategy's resilience, though it invited reciprocal escalation from opponents.

Cultural Representations

Depictions in Theater and Literature

Tony Kushner's two-part play Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1991) and Perestroika (1992) features Roy Cohn as a central character, portraying him as a ruthless, power-obsessed attorney and McCarthy aide who denies his homosexuality despite suffering from AIDS, which he attributes to liver cancer. The work, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993, dramatizes Cohn's final days in 1985–1986, including hallucinations of the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, whom he prosecuted for espionage, and critiques his conservative ideology through interactions with fictional characters like the nurse Belize. Kushner's depiction emphasizes Cohn's hypocrisy, defining political power as inherently heterosexual and heterosexual men as those who dominate others, while attributing his downfall to personal and moral failings amid the AIDS crisis. Lesser-known theatrical works include Joan Beber's Hunger: In Bed with Roy Cohn (world premiere 2012 at Odyssey Theatre), a fantasy exploring Cohn's deathbed regrets and hunger for power, with appearances by figures like his mother and Julius Rosenberg. Similarly, In Bed with Roy Cohn (2015 production), described as an end-of-life comedy, depicts Cohn receiving imaginary visitors including and while confronting his legacy. In literature, Cohn appears as a in Andrew Paul Greco's A Time for Lies: A Novel of Roy Cohn and the Poisoning of (2020), which follows a young lawyer drawn into Cohn's orbit during the McCarthy era, framing his influence as corrosive to American politics. These portrayals, predominantly critical and focused on Cohn's personal contradictions and anti-communist zeal, often draw from biographical accounts but amplify dramatic elements for thematic effect, reflecting broader cultural narratives of 1980s and the AIDS .

Portrayals in Film, Television, and Recent Media

Roy Cohn has been depicted in several and productions, often as a ruthless attorney and political operative whose influence extended to figures like and . In the 1992 HBO movie Citizen Cohn, directed by , portrayed Cohn as a combative navigating McCarthyism, the executions, and his later legal battles, emphasizing his aggressive tactics and personal demons amid his battle with AIDS. The film drew from Nicholas von Hoffman's biography, presenting Cohn's career highs and ethical lows, including his , though critics noted its dramatic liberties in condensing his life. A prominent portrayal appears in the 2003 HBO miniseries adaptation of Tony Kushner's play , directed by , where played Cohn as a closeted homosexual dying of AIDS in the , haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg (). The series, which earned Pacino an Emmy for his intense performance, framed Cohn as a symbol of hypocrisy and denial, linking his anti-communist zeal and homophobia to broader themes of American moral decay during the ; it received critical acclaim but reflected Kushner's interpretive lens, portraying Cohn as a villainous figure without fully exploring counterarguments to his legal strategies. In the 2024 biographical drama , directed by Ali Abbasi, depicted Cohn as Donald 's early mentor in 1970s and 1980s , teaching him principles like relentless attack and denial in legal and public battles. Strong's performance, nominated for an Academy Award for , humanized Cohn's ferocity with moments of vulnerability during his illness, based on accounts of their real-life partnership amid 's DOJ lawsuit over housing discrimination; the film, which premiered at , faced legal challenges from but was defended as grounded in and interviews. Documentaries have also scrutinized Cohn's legacy. The 2019 film Where's My Roy Cohn?, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, chronicles his rise from McCarthy's aide to 's advisor, using archival footage and interviews to highlight his manipulative influence on power structures, while attributing Trump's tactics partly to Cohn's playbook of denial and counterattack. Similarly, Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn (2019), directed by —granddaughter of Julius Rosenberg—examines Cohn's role in the Rosenbergs' prosecution and his broader ethical lapses, incorporating family perspectives that underscore perceived injustices, though its personal stake invites scrutiny of objectivity. These works, released amid renewed interest in Cohn's Trump connections, often emphasize his villainy but rely on selective narratives from associates and critics.

References

  1. [1]
    Roy Cohn: From 'Red Scare' Prosecutor to Donald Trump's Mentor
    Mar 6, 2019 · Cohn was a prosecutor in the Rosenberg spy trial, chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy, a close friend to Nancy Reagan and a personal lawyer for Donald ...Missing: highlights | Show results with:highlights
  2. [2]
    True Story of Roy Cohn, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in Bully ...
    Jun 18, 2020 · Robert and Michael Rosenberg in 1953. Cohn was just 23 when his role as a prosecutor in the Rosenberg trial made him a nationally-known figure.
  3. [3]
    Roy Cohn | The First Amendment Encyclopedia - Free Speech Center
    Aug 3, 2023 · Roy Cohn is best known for his work as the chief counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, whose interrogations of alleged communists had a chilling ...
  4. [4]
    'The Apprentice' Movie: How Roy Cohn Influenced Donald Trump
    Oct 11, 2024 · Roy Cohn was a powerful yet controversial lawyer who became close to client Donald Trump in the 1970s. Their bond is explored in the new ...
  5. [5]
    Roy Cohn: The mysterious US lawyer who helped Donald Trump ...
    May 17, 2024 · He was barely into his 20s when, as an assistant prosecutor in 1951, he helped engineer the conviction and execution of Julius and Ethel ...
  6. [6]
    In all Trump's legal wars and woes, one lawyer's influence still holds ...
    Jul 17, 2022 · Cohn was known for telling clients to fight all charges, to counter-sue when sued and to never concede defeat. Trump has followed his formula ...<|separator|>
  7. [7]
    FBI releases files on President Trump's late lawyer, Roy Cohn - CNBC
    Sep 27, 2019 · Cohn died in 1986 from complications of AIDS, less than two months after being disbarred for professional ethics violations. Despite years ...
  8. [8]
    The Final Lesson Donald Trump Never Learned From Roy Cohn
    Sep 19, 2019 · ... disbarred; and only six weeks after that professional disgrace, six months shy of 60 years old, Cohn was dead of AIDS. Now, less than 14 ...
  9. [9]
    https://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/aids/080386sci-aids.html
  10. [10]
    Life - The Snarling Death of Roy M. Cohn - Mary Ellen Mark
    A the time of his death on August 2, 1986, Roy Cohn was 59 and a generation had come to adulthood knowing of no senator named Joe McCarthy. But people born in ...
  11. [11]
    Roy Cohn - Spartacus Educational
    Roy Marcus Cohn was born in New York City on 20th February, 1927. His father, Albert Cohn, was a New York State judge and an important figure in the Democratic ...Missing: family parents<|separator|>
  12. [12]
    Albert Cohn - Historical Society of the New York Courts
    Justice Cohn was married to Dora Marcus Cohn in 1924, with whom he had his son Roy. He died on January 8, 1959 at the age of 73 after suffering a stroke.Missing: early life
  13. [13]
    My Roy Cohn, and Ours - Tablet Magazine
    Jun 17, 2020 · Born in the Bronx, Cohn was a pampered only child. His mother, Dora Marcus, had been an heiress until the family bank went bust in the crash ...
  14. [14]
    Who was Roy Cohn, the closeted gay lawyer who mentored Trump?
    Oct 18, 2024 · Roy Marcus Cohn was born in 1927, the only child of a wealthy New York City couple. His mother, Dora Marcus, came from a banking family; his ...
  15. [15]
    Roy Cohn | Research Starters - EBSCO
    Cohn's association with Senator Joseph McCarthy further solidified his reputation, as he served as chief counsel during McCarthy's aggressive investigations ...
  16. [16]
    Roy Marcus Cohn (1927 - 1986) - Genealogy - Geni
    Feb 27, 2025 · Roy Marcus Cohn (1927 - 1986). Birthdate: February 20, 1927. Birthplace: The Bronx, Bronx County, New York, United States. Death: August 02 ...
  17. [17]
    “Can You Explain Roy Cohn's Psyche?” | Psychology Today
    Sep 23, 2019 · Roy's father, Albert Cohn, was a judge. His mother, Dora Marcus, was a member of a family that made a fortune and then lost it. Raised in ...<|separator|>
  18. [18]
    [PDF] ROY M. COHN: MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ...
    Roy was sent to exclusive prep schools, graduated from Columbia College, and then from Columbia. Law School at the age of twenty. Using his family's ...
  19. [19]
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/06/donald-trump-roy-cohn-relationship
  20. [20]
    Roy Cohn: The Toughest, Meanest, Most Brilliant Lawyer in New York
    Mar 19, 2020 · A brilliant lad, he earned both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Columbia University before reaching 21. In 1948, with daddy's help, he ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  21. [21]
    Roy Cohn, Lawyer Whose Attacks Made Him Famous, Feared
    Jan 4, 2018 · He entered Columbia University, finishing early, and managed to graduate from Columbia's law school at the age of 19. He had to wait until ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  22. [22]
    Roy Cohn | Joseph McCarthy, Donald Trump, Second Red Scare ...
    Oct 9, 2025 · In full: Roy Marcus Cohn ; Born: February 20, 1927, Bronx, New York, U.S. ; Died: August 2, 1986, Bethesda, Maryland (aged 59).
  23. [23]
    Adrian Lee: Roy Cohn - The hustler of New York City and the creator ...
    Feb 28, 2025 · Cohn started practising law as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1948, about same time he became a board member of the American Jewish League ...
  24. [24]
    Roy M. Cohn - UMKC School of Law
    Cohn joined the U.S. Attorney's office following law school and had worked with Saypol prior to the Rosenberg case in an trial of eleven Communists.
  25. [25]
    Roy M. Cohn - Famous Trials
    Cohn joined the U.S. Attorney's office following law school and had worked with Saypol prior to the Rosenberg case in an trial of eleven Communists.
  26. [26]
    Who is Roy Cohn? Timeline and his link to Donald Trump
    Jul 31, 2020 · 1950 – During his time working for Saypol, Cohn worked to secure conviction of William Remington, a former Commerce Department employee accused ...<|separator|>
  27. [27]
    REMINGTON LINKED TO PARTY P.O. BOX; Witness at Perjury Trial ...
    He told the court under direct examination by Roy M. Cohn, Assistant United States Attorney, that membership provisions in the party's 1938 constitution ...
  28. [28]
    United States v. Remington, 191 F.2d 246 (2d Cir. 1951) - Justia Law
    After a protracted jury trial the appellant was found guilty of the crime of perjury in testifying before a grand jury that he had never been a member of the ...
  29. [29]
    The espionage trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg begins | HISTORY
    The prosecution includes Roy Cohn, best known for his association with Senator Joseph McCarthy. David Greenglass was a machinist at Los Alamos, where ...
  30. [30]
    [PDF] The Rosenberg Trial | Federal Judicial Center
    in which prosecutor Roy Cohn was haunted on his deathbed by the ghost of Ethel. Rosenberg. In 2003, the fiftieth anniversary of the executions, Robert ...
  31. [31]
    The Trial of Ethel Rosenberg – Script Excerpt – Justice For All
    Oct 24, 2023 · He testified that Julius had recruited him as a spy for the Soviets ... Assistant U.S. Attorney Roy Cohn conducted the direct examination:.
  32. [32]
    Atom Spy Case/Rosenbergs - FBI
    Using intelligence, the FBI uncovered an espionage ring run by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg that passed secrets on the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union.
  33. [33]
    Is There Anything More to Say About the Rosenberg Case?
    These messages detailed Soviet atomic espionage and unmistakably showed that Julius Rosenberg was a Soviet agent, indeed had been the head of a Soviet spy ring.
  34. [34]
    Five Things to Know About the Rosenberg Spy Case
    Jan 20, 2023 · The prosecutor, Roy Cohn, was criticized for withholding David's grand jury testimony but he had no obligation to produce prior grand jury ...
  35. [35]
    Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy
    Jul 21, 2022 · ... Roy Cohn deserved prison time more than Ethel did. She was convicted based on trial testimony from her brother and sister-in-law, David and ...
  36. [36]
    Declassified documents shed light on Ethel Rosenberg's ... - PBS
    Sep 10, 2024 · Historians have long regarded Julius Rosenberg as a Soviet spy. But questions about Ethel Rosenberg's role have simmered for years, dividing ...
  37. [37]
    March 29, 1951: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Convicted of Espionage
    The most important was the prosecution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in the summer of 1950. The Rosenbergs were charged with espionage. The major evidence was ...
  38. [38]
    A Historic Cold War Execution on Espionage Charges - Just Security
    Jun 16, 2023 · Kaufman, secretly communicated with the prosecution team, including the infamous late Roy Cohn, an assistant U.S. attorney who helped prosecute ...<|separator|>
  39. [39]
    Julius and Ethel Rosenberg | Eisenhower Presidential Library
    Members of the communist party, the Rosenbergs were convicted of passing secret information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union in 1945.
  40. [40]
    Despite Fresh Evidence, Ethel Rosenberg Is Still Guilty - Tikvah Ideas
    Oct 10, 2024 · In July 1950, Ethel's husband, Julius, was arrested on suspicion of espionage, and a month later she was also arrested. The two were ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  41. [41]
    National Affairs: The Self-Inflated Target | TIME
    Roy Cohn had threatened to “wreck the Army” in an attempt to get special treatment for one Private G. David Schine.
  42. [42]
    U.S. Senate: McCarthy and Army-McCarthy Hearings - Senate.gov
    A series of hearings conducted by McCarthy, as the subcommittee's chairman, throughout 1953 and early 1954 in which McCarthy alleged Communist influence.
  43. [43]
    Investigation Of Army-McCarthy Dispute - CQ Almanac Online Edition
    Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 27-year-old, ex-prosecutor of top Communists. Francis P. Carr, ...
  44. [44]
    Roy Cohn: Chief Counsel for McCarthy | American Experience - PBS
    Dec 10, 2019 · Senator Joseph McCarthy hired Cohn in 1953 as Chief Counsel for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
  45. [45]
    Senator McCarthy's Oversight Abuses
    He also hired Robert Kennedy, who was an ardent anti-communist, but who quit the subcommittee after he and Roy Cohn clashed and eventually got into a fist fight ...
  46. [46]
    U.S. Senate: "Have You No Sense of Decency?"
    As a result, McCarthy and his chief counsel Roy Cohn largely ran the show by themselves, relentlessly grilling and insulting witnesses. Harvard law dean Ervin ...Missing: activities | Show results with:activities
  47. [47]
    June 9, 1954: Joseph Welch Confronts Sen. Joseph McCarthy
    Attorney Roy Cohn served as a chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. (It should be noted that Cohn would later become a leading mob attorney ...
  48. [48]
    The Army with Larry Tye - American Jewish Historical Society
    Rebecca Naomi Jones: As for Roy Cohn, he resigned from McCarthy's staff in the wake of the Army hearings. He moved back to New York and entered private ...
  49. [49]
    Roy Cohn The 'Mystique' Doesn't Impress Morgenthau
    Leaving the McCarthy committee in the summer of 1954, Mr. Cohn bought out the old established Wall Street law firm of Saxe & Bacon. His practice flourished ...
  50. [50]
    ROY COHN FINDS POLITICS BRINGS NEW PROMINENCE
    Feb 19, 1981 · The lawyer, in practice for 33 years, has reached a new peak of influence since Mr. Reagan's victory. He and his law partner and longtime friend ...
  51. [51]
    The man who showed Donald Trump how to exploit power and instill ...
    Jun 17, 2016 · In 1953, Cohn joined Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) as chief counsel to the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. McCarthy had ...<|separator|>
  52. [52]
    “Where's My Roy Cohn?”: Film Explores How Joseph McCarthy's Ex ...
    Jan 28, 2019 · After Roy Cohn left Washington in disgrace in the 1950s, he became a prominent attorney in New York—a prominent mob attorney. His clients ...Missing: 1960s | Show results with:1960s
  53. [53]
    'He Brutalized For You' - POLITICO Magazine
    Apr 8, 2016 · ... Cohn had long before remade himself as the ultimate New York power lawyer, whose clientele included politicians, financiers and mob bosses. Cohn ...
  54. [54]
    'All About the Fight': How Donald Trump Developed His Political ...
    Sep 24, 2024 · With Cohn as his lawyer, Trump countersued the federal government for $100 million, and said, “I have never, nor has anyone in our organization ...<|separator|>
  55. [55]
    Inside the F.B.I. File of Trump's Mentor, Roy Cohn
    Oct 1, 2019 · Later he became a feared, and fearsome, advocate for the mafia boss Anthony Salerno, the former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Mr.
  56. [56]
    Just What Were Donald Trump's Ties to the Mob? - Politico
    May 22, 2016 · ... mafia chieftains Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno and Paul Castellano. That ... Among other things Cohn was now a mob consigliere, with clients ...
  57. [57]
    5 Things You May Not Know About My Vile, Malicious Cousin Roy ...
    Sep 27, 2019 · Cohn advised everyone from Catholic archbishops to Mafia clients like Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno and Gambino family boss Paul Castellano.
  58. [58]
    The Six Dark Lessons Roy Cohn Taught Trump (That He Still Uses ...
    Jul 31, 2025 · Cohn taught Trump that lawsuits were instruments of intimidation, not vehicles for dispute resolution. He filed cases not to win—though winning ...
  59. [59]
    ROY COHN, AIDE TO McCARTHY AND FIERY LAWYER, DIES AT 59
    Aug 3, 1986 · Roy M. Cohn, the flamboyant, controversial defense lawyer who was chief counsel to Joseph R. McCarthy's Senate investigations in the 1950's into Communist ...
  60. [60]
    'Where's My Roy Cohn' explores life of Trump mentor
    Sep 26, 2019 · Cohn was a conduit to a lot of big-ticket political donors.” Cohn was also the lawyer for the owners of the fabulous Studio 54, as well as a ...
  61. [61]
    [PDF] Roy Cohn's America- Conservatism, Sexual Politics, and Memory in ...
    Apr 10, 2020 · Roy Cohn was a lawyer active between 1950 and his disbarment in 1986. Known in life for his role as Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel ...
  62. [62]
    Roy Cohn and the Mafia Style in American Politics - The Atlantic
    Oct 3, 2019 · Roy Cohn connects the McCarthy era to the age of Trump across more than half a century.
  63. [63]
    President Reagan shakes hands with Roy Cohn in the Oval Office ...
    Jan 18, 1983 · President Reagan shakes hands with Roy Cohn in the Oval Office (Jan. 18, 1983). Photograph by Courtesy of the White House.
  64. [64]
    Meeting with VIPs - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
    C8863-26, President Reagan and Nancy Reagan greeting Roy Cohn during a reception for the Eureka College Scholarship Committee and donors in the Blue Room.
  65. [65]
    Staring the devil in the eyes. Roy Cohn helped send ... - Marcus Baram
    Jun 18, 2020 · That's a little how filmmaker Ivy Meeropol felt back in 1987 when she visited Washington, DC to view the AIDS Quilt memorial and the first panel ...
  66. [66]
    New HBO docs shed light on Roy Cohn, plight of gays in Chechnya
    Jul 4, 2020 · He was one of the architects of the Reagan Revolution and served as a mentor to real estate developer Donald Trump. He died of complications ...
  67. [67]
    Case: United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump, and Trump ...
    Apr 27, 2024 · The Trumps retained Roy Cohn, former aide to Senator Joseph McCarthy, to defend them; they counter-claimed against the government, seeking $100 ...
  68. [68]
    https://www.npr.org/2016/09/29/495955920/donald-trump-plagued-by-decades-old-housing-discrimination-case
  69. [69]
    Trump's search for his wartime consigliere - NPR
    Jun 17, 2023 · Roy Cohn (left) and Donald Trump attend the Trump Tower opening in New York City in October 1983. ... Cohn slid into private practice back ...Missing: connections | Show results with:connections
  70. [70]
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/16/donald-trump-rupert-murdoch-friendship-fox-news
  71. [71]
    Frank Rich: Roy Cohn Was the Original Donald Trump
    Apr 29, 2018 · No behavior is too appalling to sophisticated New Yorkers as long as you are skilled at trading power and influence. Roy Cohn knew this.
  72. [72]
    Trump's Art of the Deal and Roy Cohn: “Always Hit Back”
    Oct 20, 2016 · Roy Cohn taught young Donald Trump two simple precepts: Always hit back. Never apologize. That's exactly what we've seen Trump doing throughout ...
  73. [73]
    Roy Cohn, One of UE's Worst Enemies, Was Donald Trump's Mentor
    Oct 26, 2016 · The late Roy Cohn, an unscrupulous New York lawyer and power broker, was Donald Trump's mentor for 13 years during his rise to celebrity status.
  74. [74]
    'Where's My Roy Cohn?' looks at atrocious attorney | sfexaminer.com
    identities he forever tried to conceal, sometimes by hypocritical and heinous means. The ...<|separator|>
  75. [75]
    Where's My Roy Cohn? | a Sony Pictures Classics release
    Cohn was a denizen of Studio 54, often accompanied by his male lovers, while adamantly denying his homosexuality to everyone. Cohn's party finally came to an ...
  76. [76]
    Rumor Has It - Public Seminar
    Feb 27, 2023 · ... Roy Cohn and G. David Schine, were allegedly in a romantic relationship. And there was yet another rumor well known to those in the chamber ...
  77. [77]
    Doc shines light on controversial and closeted gay lawyer Roy Cohn
    Oct 3, 2019 · He was disbarred and investigated for a fraudulent codicil, lying under oath and other crimes. He refused to acknowledge he was gay or had AIDS ...
  78. [78]
    Can we talk about how not fully exploring Roy Cohn and David ...
    Nov 24, 2023 · And yes, they broke up and David went on to marry Miss Universe but they were friends right up to Roy's death. There are pics of them together ...
  79. [79]
    Vanity Fair - Roy Cohn's Last Days - Mary Ellen Mark
    The only two people who knew were Peter and Roy's partner of thirty years, Tom Bolan. To his secretary, Susan Bell, and his closest friends he kept dispensing ...
  80. [80]
    Roy Cohn was both a victim of homophobia and complicit in it
    Aug 1, 2022 · Roy Cohn was both a victim of homophobia and complicit in it. How paranoia and persecution ruined the lives of countless gay men and women.
  81. [81]
    Roy Cohn partying in Studio 54 with one of its owners, Steve Rubell ...
    Oct 13, 2024 · The client was Lewis Rosenstiel, second husband of Leonore Cohn (no relation to Roy), whose third husband was Walter Annenberg. Lewis' and ...<|separator|>
  82. [82]
    22 Steve Rubell Roy Cohn Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images
    ... Mudd Club, New York, New York, 1979.... With his attorney, Roy Cohn , at his side, Steve ...
  83. [83]
    Marcia Resnick | Roy Cohn and Steve Rubell at the Mudd Club ...
    Marcia Resnick, Roy Cohn and Steve Rubell at the Mudd Club, 1979/c. 2001. Gelatin silver print. 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 cm. From an unknown edition.
  84. [84]
    NEW YORK COURT DISBARS ROY COHN ON CHARGES OF ...
    Jun 24, 1986 · Cohn disbarred, calling his conduct in four legal matters ''unethical,'' ''unprofessional'' and, in one case, ''particularly reprehensible.''.
  85. [85]
    Attorneys' Disciplinary Panel Asks Disbarment for Roy Cohn
    Jul 14, 1985 · Earlier last week, it was revealed that the disciplinary committee had found Cohn guilty of misconduct in three incidents after a four-year ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  86. [86]
    THE 4 CASES CITED IN THE COHN RULING - The New York Times
    Jun 24, 1986 · ... professional misconduct against the attorney Roy M. Cohn by the ... charges or complaints now pending concerning your conduct as an attorney.
  87. [87]
    MATTER OF COHN | 118 A.D.2d 15 | N.Y. App. Div. - CaseMine
    Respondent's issuance of a subsequently dishonored check in payment of this loan was further evidence of professional misconduct ... codicil to Rosenstiel's last ...
  88. [88]
    Rebel Roy Cohn disbarred | AP News
    Jun 24, 1986 · ''Simply stated, the four charges involved alleged dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation,'' the court wrote in its decision.Missing: ethics | Show results with:ethics
  89. [89]
    FBI Released Files on Allegations of Bribery Against Roy Cohn
    Sep 28, 2019 · ... Roy Cohn. The documents detail the agency's investigation into Cohn concerning perjury, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and bribery ...Missing: professional conduct
  90. [90]
    Roy Cohn Is Disbarred By New York Court - The Washington Post
    Jun 23, 1986 · "For an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this state, such misconduct is inexcusable, notwithstanding an impressive array of character ...
  91. [91]
    N.Y. Disbars Roy Cohn on Misconduct Charges - Los Angeles Times
    Jun 23, 1986 · A lawyers' disciplinary committee, an arm of the appeals court, recommended Cohn's disbarment a year ago over three cases dating to 1966. The ...Missing: details date
  92. [92]
    Ill With Cancer, He May Be Disbarred : Roy M. Cohn Fights for His ...
    Feb 2, 1986 · Famed and feared for three decades, Roy Cohn today is fighting for his life--he says he has liver cancer--while a state judicial panel seeks to disbar him.
  93. [93]
    Cohn's Health Called 'Precarious' by Doctor - The New York Times
    Feb 18, 1986 · The condition of Roy M. Cohn, who is suffering from liver cancer, remains ''very precarious'' after four months of treatment with ''a new, experimental drug.Missing: details 1984-1986
  94. [94]
    Roy Cohn dies at 59 - UPI Archives
    Aug 4, 1986 · ... died Saturday from complications brought on by AIDS. He was 59. Cohn, who learned he had liver cancer last year, was undergoing treatment at ...<|separator|>
  95. [95]
    OBITUARIES - The Washington Post
    Aug 2, 1986 · Mr. Cohn had repeatedly denied that he had AIDS, saying that he was suffering from liver cancer. Haske refused to elaborate on Mr. Cohn's ...
  96. [96]
    McCarthyism and the Red Scare | Miller Center
    The first move the White House made was to try to discredit the men around McCarthy, notably the lawyer Roy Cohn, who was leading the investigation, and Cohn's ...
  97. [97]
    A mentor in shamelessness: the man who taught Trump the power of ...
    Apr 20, 2016 · Roy Cohn, the lawyer who embraced infamy during the McCarthy hearings and Rosenberg trial, influenced Donald Trump to turn the tabloids into a soapbox.Missing: rising | Show results with:rising
  98. [98]
    Don't Mess With Roy Cohn - Esquire
    Jul 13, 2016 · Roy Cohn was once the most feared lawyer in New York City. A ruthless master of dirty tricks, he smeared the reputations of his political enemies.
  99. [99]
    Angels in America Roy Cohn Character Analysis - SparkNotes
    The Roy Cohn of Angels in America stands out as a genuinely original and surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of intentional malice.
  100. [100]
    Roy Cohn's Story Resurfaces With 'Angels in America' at Ensemble ...
    Jan 10, 2018 · The two-part play captures the socioeconomics of the 80's and artistic director Celeste Cosentino sees Cohn's character as key to that portrayal.Missing: depictions | Show results with:depictions
  101. [101]
    Roy Cohn Character Analysis in Angels in America - LitCharts
    Roy Cohn, both a character in the play and a real-life attorney and political figure, is an elderly lawyer and a mentor to Joe Pitt.
  102. [102]
    Theater review: 'Hunger: In Bed With Roy Cohn' at Odyssey Theatre
    Jan 25, 2012 · The image of Roy Cohn on his deathbed is so appealing to playwrights that the 1950s villain, the heavy of the Rosenberg trial and the Army- ...Missing: depictions | Show results with:depictions
  103. [103]
    In Bed With Roy Cohn - TheaterMania.com
    Sep 2, 2015 · Roy Cohn (Christopher Daftsios) occupies this bed, receiving imaginary visitors like his lover Serge (the beefy Serge Thony), Ronald Reagan (an ...Missing: depictions | Show results with:depictions
  104. [104]
    A Time For Lies: A novel of Roy Cohn and the poisoning of America
    30-day returnsHe has written four works of historical fiction, two works set in ancient Rome; The Medicus Codex and Becoming Caligula. His other two works are based on WW2 ...
  105. [105]
    An Oral History of Roy Cohn and 'Angels in America.' - Vulture
    Feb 7, 2018 · Joe's mentor in the play is Roy Cohn, the real-life lawyer and rabid McCarthyite who led a secret gay existence and, in 1986, died from complications of AIDS.
  106. [106]
    Who's afraid of Roy Cohn? Not Jeremy Strong - Los Angeles Times
    Oct 7, 2024 · Throughout “The Apprentice,” Cohn comes across not only with his renowned ferocity, but also with uncommon empathy, courtesy of actor Jeremy Strong.
  107. [107]
    Where's My Roy Cohn? (2019) - IMDb
    Rating 7/10 (1,369) This is a fascinating documentary of Roy Cohn, a New York power broker and uber lawyer, whose adversary, legal or otherwise, you didn't want to be. We see ...
  108. [108]
    Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn (2019) - IMDb
    Rating 6.8/10 (1,129) The Story of Roy Cohn" (2020 release; 98 min.) is a new documentary about the life and times of Roy Cohn, albeit with a different twist. As the movie opens, we ...