A Young Star in New York
On a busy street in New York City, a small boy named Roy Marcus Cohn lived in a big brick house. It was 1927, and little Roy was already different from other kids.
Roy's daddy was a judge, and his mommy wanted Roy to be special. She told him every day, "Roy, you're going to be somebody important!"
"My mommy taught me to read when I was very little," Roy would later tell people. "I could read big books before I went to school!"
Little Roy wasn't like other kids who played with toys. He loved to sit in his daddy's study and look at law books. The words were big, but Roy learned them all!
The Smartest Kid in School
Roy was so smart that he finished high school when he was only 14 years old! That's like finishing 12th grade when most kids are just starting 9th grade.
His teachers would say, "We've never seen anyone like Roy before!"
Things that made Roy special:
He could remember everything he read
He talked like a grown-up
He knew what he wanted to be: a lawyer just like his daddy
Meeting Important People
When Roy went to college, he was the youngest student there. But that didn't stop him! He studied hard and made friends with people who had lots of power.
One day, something big happened. Roy met a man named Senator Joseph McCarthy. This meeting would change Roy's whole life!
"Young man," Senator McCarthy said, "I think you and I could do great things together!"
Roy smiled. He knew this was his chance to become someone important, just like his mommy always said he would.
Learning About Power
Roy watched how important people acted. He saw how they talked, how they dressed, and how they got what they wanted. He was like a tiny sponge, soaking up everything!
"Power isn't just about being strong," Roy would write in his diary. "It's about being smart and knowing the right people."
At night, Roy would sit by his window in New York City. He would look at all the tall buildings and bright lights. He knew that someday, he would be one of the most powerful people in this big city.
Fun Fact: Roy became a lawyer when he was only 20 years old! Most people have to wait until they're 25 or older.
Young Roy was just getting started. He had big dreams and wasn't afraid to chase them. The little boy who loved law books was growing up to be exactly what his mommy said he would be - somebody very important.
As Roy walked through the busy streets of New York, he didn't know that soon he would help change American history. But that's a story for another time... The McCarthy Years
Roy Cohn stepped into his new job with a big smile. He was now working with Senator McCarthy! It was 1950, and Roy was ready to make his mark. ️
Senator McCarthy liked to say there were bad people called Communists hiding in America. Roy helped him look for them. They were like detectives, but not the fun kind.
"We need to protect America," Roy would say. "That's why we're doing this important work!"
The Big Helper
Roy became Senator McCarthy's right-hand man. Even though Roy was only 23 years old, he acted like he was much older. He wore fancy suits and talked in a loud, strong voice.
Every day, Roy and McCarthy would have big meetings. They called people to come and answer questions. Sometimes these meetings were on TV! Roy liked being on TV - it made him feel important.
"Tell us what you know!" Roy would say to the people they questioned. He wasn't always nice when he asked.
Making a Name
People started to know who Roy was. Some people liked him, and some didn't. But everyone knew he was powerful!
Roy had special ways of getting what he wanted:
He talked very fast
He never gave up
He wasn't afraid of anyone
He knew lots of secrets
Best Friends with Power
Roy and Senator McCarthy became best friends. They went everywhere together. They had lunch at fancy restaurants and rode in big black cars.
But Roy learned something important: being powerful doesn't mean everyone will like you. Many people were scared of Roy and McCarthy. Some people said they weren't being fair.
Important Fact: Roy became famous for these big meetings. They were called "hearings," and they changed many people's lives.
The Power Game
Roy loved playing what he called "the power game." He knew just what to say to make people listen to him. He knew how to make big people nervous.
Every morning, Roy would read all the newspapers. He wanted to know everything that was happening. Knowledge was power, and Roy wanted all the power he could get!
"In this town," Roy would say, "you're either somebody or you're nobody. And I'm going to be somebody!"
Changes Coming
But things started to change. People began to think maybe Senator McCarthy and Roy weren't being very nice. Some brave people stood up to them.
Roy watched as his friend McCarthy started to lose power. It was like watching a big balloon slowly lose air. But Roy wasn't worried - he had learned a lot about power, and he had plans of his own.
The young boy who loved law books had grown into a man who knew how to use power. He was ready for his next big adventure in New York City, where he would become an even more important lawyer. The city's bright lights were calling him home... ✨King of the Courtroom
After leaving Washington, Roy Cohn went back to New York City. He opened his own law office in a tall building. The view from his window showed the whole city!
A Different Kind of Lawyer
Roy wasn't like other lawyers. He didn't just help people with small problems. He wanted the biggest, most exciting cases! Some of his clients were:
Rich business owners
Famous movie stars
Big restaurant owners
Important politicians
"If you want to win, you come to Roy!" he would tell people with a big smile.
The Magic Touch
Roy had special ways to win his cases. He was like a magician in the courtroom! He could make judges smile and juries nod their heads. He knew just what to say and when to say it.
Sometimes, Roy would work all night long. He would read every little detail about his cases. His office lights would shine bright while the rest of the city slept.
"Being ready is everything," Roy would say. "I never walk into court without knowing exactly what I'm going to do!"
Making Friends in High Places
Roy loved going to fancy parties. He would meet important people there. Everyone wanted to know Roy because he could help them with their problems.
He started having dinner at the best restaurants in New York. The waiters all knew his name. They would give him the best table and his favorite drinks without him even asking!
Fun Fact: Roy's phone never stopped ringing. People called him day and night asking for help!
The Price of Power
But being a powerful lawyer wasn't always fun. Roy had to work very hard. Sometimes he didn't sleep much. He drank lots of coffee to stay awake. ☕
Some people didn't like how Roy did things. They said he played tricks to win his cases. But Roy didn't care what they said. He just wanted to win!
"Winning is the only thing that matters," Roy would tell his helpers. "Nobody remembers second place!"
The Growing Legend
Stories about Roy started to spread around New York. Some people said he could make impossible things happen. Others said he knew secrets about everyone important in the city.
Young lawyers wanted to be just like him. They would watch him in court and try to copy how he talked and moved. But nobody could be quite like Roy Cohn!
"There's only one Roy Cohn," people would say. "And that's probably a good thing!"
New Friends, New Power
Roy started meeting new kinds of powerful people. Some weren't very nice, but they had lots of money and needed help. Roy didn't care if people were good or bad - he just wanted to help them win their cases.
As the years went by, Roy's power grew bigger and bigger. He wasn't just a lawyer anymore - he was becoming a legend in New York City. But with more power came more problems, and Roy would soon face some of his biggest challenges yet...Behind the Mask
Roy Cohn had a big secret. While he looked strong and brave to everyone else, inside he felt scared and alone. He had to hide who he really was from the world.
Two Different Roys
During the day, Roy was loud and tough in court. At night, he was quiet and different. He went to special parties where he could be himself. But he never talked about these parties to his work friends.
"Nobody can know the real me," Roy would whisper to his closest friends. "They wouldn't understand."
A Lonely Life
Roy lived in a big house, but it felt empty. He had lots of fancy things, but they didn't make him happy. What he wanted most was to be loved for who he really was.
Sometimes, Roy would look out his window at night and watch happy families walking by. He wished he could have that kind of life too.
"I have everything I wanted," Roy would say, "but sometimes it feels like nothing at all."
Getting Sick
One day, Roy started feeling very tired. His body hurt, and he got fevers. The doctors told him he was very sick. But Roy didn't want anyone to know about his illness.
He kept working hard, even when he didn't feel good. He took medicine in secret and told everyone he was fine.
Important Note: Roy was scared people would treat him differently if they knew he was sick.
Fighting Back
Roy fought his sickness like he fought his court cases - with all his might! He didn't give up, even when things got really hard.
He told the doctors he had liver cancer. That wasn't true, but he thought it sounded better than what he really had. He was still trying to protect his secret.
"I'm not weak," he would say. "I'll never be weak!"
True Friends
A few special friends stayed with Roy when he was sick. They didn't care about his secrets. They just wanted to help him feel better.
These friends showed Roy that some people would love him no matter what. But it was hard for him to trust anyone completely.
One friend said: "Roy was different when we were alone. He was softer, kinder, more real."
The Heavy Crown
Being powerful started to feel like wearing a heavy crown. Roy had to be strong all the time, even when he felt weak. He had to be tough all the time, even when he wanted to cry.
But under all that toughness was a person who just wanted to be accepted. Roy's biggest fight wasn't in any courtroom - it was with himself.
"Sometimes the hardest person to be honest with is yourself," one of Roy's friends said later.
As Roy's sickness got worse, he had to make big choices. Should he keep his secrets? Should he tell the truth? The answers weren't easy, and time was running out...Power and Influence
Roy Cohn loved teaching others how to be powerful. One of his most famous students was a young man named Donald Trump. Roy saw something special in Donald - he was hungry to learn and win!
Teaching Trump
Roy met Donald when Donald was just starting in business. Donald's buildings weren't very tall yet. Roy taught him many important things:
• Never say sorry
• Always hit back harder
• Make big news with everything you do
• Act like you're winning, even when you're not
Special Lessons
"If someone hits you," Roy would tell Donald, "hit them back ten times harder!" Donald listened carefully and wrote everything down.
Roy showed Donald how to get his name in newspapers. He taught him how to make...
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