How One Notorious Figure Created the Likes of Donald Trump The recent publication of Kai Bird's American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn's Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump has shed light on a figure whose influence extends far beyond 20th century Washington and New York City.
As a lawyer, politician, and operator, Roy Cohn was the embodiment of the corrupting influence of power – a man who built his career on exploiting relationships, manipulating institutions, and getting away with it.
Cohn's modus operandi is strikingly similar to that of tech industry leaders like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg.