Roy Cohn Did It First
This article examines the influence of Roy Cohn on Donald Trump's political and legal strategies, tracing the roots of modern political debasement. It argues that Trump's disregard for rules mirrors the tactics Cohn used throughout his career.
Why it matters
It provides historical context for contemporary political behavior, suggesting that current trends are part of a longer lineage of power-seeking tactics.
The debasement of American politics didn’t start with Donald Trump.
Illustration by Cristiana Couceiro* August 30, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save The day after Donald Trump won the 2016 election, the conservative political operative Roger Stone was among the lucky few to get through to him on the telephone. The president-elect reminisced about the long-dead friend who had introduced him to Stone: “Wouldn’t Roy love to see this moment? Boy, do we miss him.”
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