As the new film The Apprentice premieres at the Cannes Film Festival, it casts a spotlight on the notorious political figure Roy Cohn, best known as the mentor to Donald Trump during his early career. Cohn, a hard-line lawyer infamous for his ruthless tactics, taught Trump the strategy of “attack, counterattack, and never apologize.”

The Apprentice, a high-profile entry at Cannes, subverts the title of Trump’s famous reality show to focus on Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) as an ambitious young businessman under the tutelage of the unscrupulous lawyer Roy Cohn (portrayed by Jeremy Strong). While Strong’s character Kendall Roy in *Succession* is ruthless, the real Roy Cohn is even more menacing.

Cohn’s infamy extends beyond his mentorship of Trump. He was a prominent figure in U.S. politics and culture, known for his hypocrisy as a gay man who persecuted other gay individuals during the Lavender Scare of the 1950s. He spent his life bullying others and manipulating facts, dying of AIDS in 1986 while publicly claiming to have liver cancer and denying his sexuality.

Early Career and Rise to Power

Cohn’s career began with notable notoriety. In his early 20s, as an assistant prosecutor in 1951, he played a pivotal role in the conviction and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage. He later gained fame as the chief counsel for Senator Joseph McCarthy’s committee, which sought to root out Communists from the government.

By the 1970s and 80s, Cohn had become a fixture in New York’s social scene, frequenting Studio 54 and mingling with celebrities like Barbara Walters, Andy Warhol, and the Reagans. As a lawyer, he represented high-profile clients, including Mafia bosses and Donald Trump. His career ended in disgrace with his disbarment for defrauding clients, among other offenses.

The Trump Connection

Cohn’s alliance with Trump began in the early 1970s when Trump and his father faced a lawsuit for racial discrimination in housing. Cohn advised Trump to countersue the Justice Department, a move that set a litigious pattern for Trump’s future dealings. A 2016 *Washington Post* article described Cohn’s influence on Trump as teaching him to exploit power and instill fear, summarizing Cohn’s lesson as “attack, counterattack, and never apologize.”

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Cohn’s legacy has been depicted in various cultural works. Tony Kushner’s *Angels in America* features Cohn as a symbol of Reagan-era hypocrisy, portrayed memorably by Al Pacino in the HBO miniseries adaptation. Cohn’s character in this play is a complex mix of conviction and self-deception, insisting he is not gay despite his actions, and confronting the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg with glee over her execution.

The 2019 documentary *Where’s My Roy Cohn?* explores his historical impact, including archival footage showcasing his manipulative tactics. The title references Trump’s lament during his presidency when he felt betrayed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, highlighting Cohn’s lasting influence on Trump’s worldview.

Continued Influence

Cohn’s impact extends beyond his lifetime, shaping American politics and culture. His teachings to Trump have reverberated through the latter’s business and political strategies, contributing to a confrontational and litigious style that has marked Trump’s career. As Thomas Mallon, author of *Fellow Travelers*, observes, Cohn’s influence is like a “vampiric afterlife,” affecting U.S. politics at intervals over the past 70 years.

Cohn’s notoriety and the cultural fascination with his life and methods ensure his place as a significant, if malevolent, figure in American history. *The Apprentice* at Cannes promises to reignite interest in this controversial character, emphasizing the lasting consequences of his mentorship and machinations.