Roy Cohn, a name synonymous with controversy and power, is once again in the spotlight with the premiere of The Apprentice at the Cannes Film Festival. This new film delves into the formative relationship between a young Donald Trump and his mentor, the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn. Cohn, portrayed by Jeremy Strong, is depicted as the architect of Trump’s aggressive tactics, instilling in him the mantra to “attack, counterattack, and never apologize.” But who was Roy Cohn, and why does his legacy continue to resonate in American politics and culture?
Even before his association with Donald Trump, Roy Cohn was a significant, albeit divisive, figure in American public life. His career was marked by stark contradictions and a relentless pursuit of power. Notably, Cohn, a closeted gay man, played a key role in the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, persecuting homosexual individuals within the US government. Throughout his life, Lawyer Cohn was known for his bullying demeanor and disregard for factual accuracy. His death from AIDS in 1986 was shrouded in denial, as he publicly insisted on having liver cancer, refusing to acknowledge his homosexuality even as he brought lovers to public events.
The Apprentice vividly portrays the complex relationship between Donald Trump and his lawyer mentor, Roy Cohn (Credit: Cannes Film Festival)
Roy Cohn’s impact extends beyond his political machinations. He has become a recurring, often menacing, figure in popular culture. Tony Kushner’s Angels in America and the recent miniseries Fellow Travelers feature him as a symbol of ruthless ambition and hypocrisy. Even The Simpsons drew inspiration from Cohn for Mr. Burns’s unscrupulous lawyer. Esquire magazine aptly described Cohn as galloping “through the second half of the 20th Century like a malevolent Forrest Gump,” capturing the widespread public perception of him.
Thomas Mallon, author of Fellow Travelers, notes Cohn’s “vampiric afterlife,” emphasizing his continued relevance decades after his death. Mallon astutely observes, “Insofar as he personally affected Trump’s thinking and behaviour, one realises that Cohn has had an impact on the republic, albeit at intervals, for 70 years.” This enduring influence makes The Apprentice a particularly timely and important film.
Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of lawyer Roy Cohn in The Apprentice is generating significant awards buzz, including a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. Sebastian Stan, playing Donald Trump, also received a Best Actor nomination. Both actors are recognized for their compelling performances in depicting this complex relationship.
Roy Cohn’s career began with a display of ruthless effectiveness. Barely in his twenties, as an assistant prosecutor in 1951, lawyer Cohn played a crucial role in the conviction and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg on charges of Soviet espionage. He later admitted to engaging in unethical behind-the-scenes communications with the judge to ensure the death penalty was imposed. Subsequently, Cohn rose to notoriety as chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade, further solidifying his image as a political operator who prioritized results over ethical considerations.
In the glittering and often decadent world of 1970s and 80s New York, Roy Cohn thrived. He frequented the infamous Studio 54, cultivating relationships with celebrities and power brokers like Barbara Walters, Andy Warhol, and Ronald and Nancy Reagan. As a lawyer, his client list was diverse and often controversial, ranging from Mafia figures to Donald Trump. However, his career ended in disgrace when, weeks before his death, he was disbarred for numerous ethical violations, including defrauding clients. Adding to his eccentric public persona, Cohn was also known for his uncouth habit of eating food directly off other people’s plates in restaurants.
Matt Tyrnauer, director of Where’s my Roy Cohn?, argues that lawyer Roy Cohn “created a president from beyond the grave” (Credit: Getty Images)
The alliance between lawyer Roy Cohn and Donald Trump began in the early 1970s when the US government initiated legal action against Trump and his father for discriminatory housing practices against Black renters. Cohn’s response was characteristically aggressive: he had Trump countersue the Justice Department. While the case was eventually settled, this marked the beginning of a long and influential relationship. Cohn’s legal strategies and confrontational approach became deeply ingrained in Trump’s business and political career. A Washington Post article during the 2016 presidential campaign highlighted Cohn’s profound influence, headlining him as “The man who showed Donald Trump how to exploit power and instill fear,” summarizing his core lesson as “attack, counterattack and never apologise.” Cohn was also a master of manipulating the media narrative to his and his clients’ advantage.
The 2019 documentary Where’s my Roy Cohn? provides a historical perspective on Cohn’s life and career, although it doesn’t primarily focus on Trump. The film’s title itself comes from one of Trump’s now-infamous outbursts. Reportedly, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, a decision Trump viewed as disloyal, he angrily demanded, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?”
Trump’s rhetorical question, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?”, has become a recurring theme in discussions about his legal strategies, especially amidst his recent criminal trial in New York. Articles analyzing Trump’s legal team often invoke Cohn’s name, highlighting his lasting influence. Where’s my Roy Cohn? features archival footage showcasing Cohn’s chillingly calm demeanor as he boasted on television in the 1970s about selling “scare value” to his legal adversaries, implying that non-compliance would lead to dire consequences.
Ivy Meeropol, granddaughter of the Rosenbergs, asserts that “Cohn really paved the way for Trump and set him up with… the people who helped him get to the White House” (Credit: Getty Images)
Despite his significant impact, Roy Cohn had largely faded from public memory until Angels in America premiered in 1991. Tony Kushner’s play brilliantly resurrected Cohn as a symbol of Reagan-era hypocrisy, depicting him on his deathbed grappling with his legacy. Al Pacino’s acclaimed portrayal in the miniseries adaptation captures Cohn’s unwavering conviction in his own lies, even as he faces death from AIDS. In a powerful scene, Cohn vehemently denies being gay, asserting that “homosexuals are men who have zero clout,” a stark contrast to his own powerful self-image. He is haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, with whom he exchanges chilling words, gloating about her execution.
Fellow Travelers expands upon Cohn’s role, portraying him as a menacing figure in the lives of the main characters navigating the complexities of homosexual life in 1950s Washington. Will Brill’s portrayal of Cohn is intense and threatening, showcasing his ruthless determination to manipulate situations to his advantage. Historically, Cohn’s aggressive tactics eventually led to investigations into McCarthy and himself, ultimately contributing to his departure from Washington.
Roy Cohn’s persona, despite its darkness, also lends itself to satire. In The Good Fight, Michael Sheen’s character, Roland Blum, is partly inspired by Cohn, embodying the bombastic and deceptive lawyer archetype. An episode titled “The One Inspired by Roy Cohn” directly references Cohn’s influence, depicting Blum admiring a photo of himself with Cohn and Roger Stone, another Trump advisor and Cohn protégé. Blum quips about Cohn teaching them “there could be beauty in a well-told lie.” The episode even includes an animated short featuring a disco-dancing Cohn and caricatured Trump, with lyrics highlighting Cohn’s role in teaching Trump “everything he knew” and prioritizing winning over truth.
When lawyer Cohn (portrayed by Will Brill in Fellow Travelers) faced disbarment, Donald Trump testified in an attempt to help him keep his law license (Credit: Paramount)
While mainstream portrayals often depict Cohn negatively, some of Trump’s allies offer a different perspective. Steve Bannon, in a foreword to a 2023 reissue of Nicholas von Hoffman’s biography Citizen Cohn, describes Cohn as “one of the most extraordinary, demonised, and misunderstood figures of 20th-Century politics.” Bannon draws parallels between Cohn’s combative approach and Trump’s current legal battles, suggesting that Trump is merely following Cohn’s playbook. He implies that Trump’s question, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?”, is a call for similar ruthlessness in the face of adversity.
Gabriel Sherman, the screenwriter for The Apprentice, aimed to portray a more nuanced version of Cohn than previous depictions. He sought to move beyond the flamboyant caricature and depict a “much quieter and more menacing” Cohn, based on accounts from those who knew him personally. This interpretation aligns with archival footage in documentaries like Where’s my Roy Cohn? and Bully. Coward. Victim: The Story of Roy Cohn, which reveal a colder, more calculated persona.
As The Apprentice debuts, it remains to be seen how Jeremy Strong’s portrayal will contribute to the ongoing cultural understanding of Roy Cohn. Kushner’s Cohn famously declares in Angels, “I have forced my way into history. I ain’t never gonna die.” Whether as a villain, a mentor, or a cautionary tale, Roy Cohn’s legacy as a lawyer and political operative continues to cast a long shadow on American society.
