In the Shadow of Power
From Roy Cohn to Jonadab, How Fixers and Enablers Shape the Rise of Ruthless Leaders
After months of being blocked by its original financier, the movie The Apprentice is finally set to be released this October. It promises to shed light on the early career of the former president. While the headlines will likely focus on revelations about the Republican nominee, what interests me most is learning more about Roy Cohn, his mentor and legal bulldog in the 1970s.
The two met during a legal battle with the U.S. Department of Justice. The Trump Organization had been accused of racial discrimination in its rental properties. Cohn’s advice was to go on the offensive. He told Trump to countersue the government, believing that attacking rather than defending was the best way to win.
Roy Cohn Wielded Power Through Favors and Intimidation
For years, Roy Cohn operated as one of the most feared lawyers in America, but by the 1980s, his reckless behavior caught up with him. He was disbarred for unethical legal practices, misusing client funds, tax evasion, and fraud. Yet during his career, he wielded extraordinary power.
The documentary Bully, Coward, Victim: The Story of Roy Cohn, paints a vivid picture of a man who believed in getting what he wanted by any means necessary. Cohn wasn’t above leaking damaging information to a gossip columnist at the New York Post to gain an edge. He exploited legal loopholes and intimidated opponents, always looking for ways to win, no matter the cost.
Trump hired Cohn as his personal lawyer and fixer because he saw him as a kindred spirit — someone who wasn’t afraid to challenge the establishment. During the Mueller investigation, when Trump grew frustrated with the attorney general’s inability to shield him from charges, he famously asked, "Where’s my Roy Cohn?" He wanted someone who could counterpunch and protect him by any means necessary.
People With a Lust for Power Need Enablers
People with a lust for power rarely get to the top on their own. They need enablers — people who are willing to look the other way, justify bad behavior, or actively help them bend the rules. These enablers gain from their connection to power, though they often fail to see that they’re just pawns in a bigger game.
Even more dangerous are the fixers who eagerly feed into a leader’s worst impulses. They sense what powerful want and find ways to deliver it. Roy Cohn was a master at this. He used his vast network of connections to get things done. He knew exactly what people needed and positioned himself as their go-to person — a skill that went all the way back to his work advising Senator Joseph McCarthy during the infamous Red Scare.
Jonadab was Amnon’s Fixer
This dynamic of enabler and leader isn’t new. In fact, it echos a much older story. When King David’s son Amnon lusted after his half-sister Tamar, it was his friend and cousin Jonadab who played the role of fixer. The Message translation of the Bible describes Jonadab as “exceptionally streetwise” (2 Samuel 13:1-4). He devised a plan for Amnon to pretend to be sick and ask their father to send Tamar to prepare supper for him in his chambers. There, he cleared the room and sexually assaulted her (2 Samuel 13:5-17).
Jonadab’s scheme worked by exploiting social and familial norms to get Amnon what he wanted. But after the act, Amnon’s feelings for Tamar turned to hatred, and he cast her aside. Amnon faced no consequences for his actions. This led Tamar’s brother, Absalom, to take justice into his own hands, eventually murdering Amnon in revenge, and setting off a cascade of events that culminated in a violent insurrection (2 Samuel 13:28 & 15:14).
Enablers Feed Our Worst Instincts
Both Cohn and Jonadab illustrate a troubling aspect of human nature: People in power who lack integrity often surround themselves with people who help them do wrong. Whether through deception, cruelty, or bending the rules, these enablers push the limits to deliver what the leader desires.
On the flip side, if we ourselves are drawn toward wrongdoing, enablers will be drawn to us. They work like Internet algorithms, sensing what will keep us hooked and feed our worst instincts. If we wish to do wrong, there will always be people willing to help.
Each of us must take a hard look at our hearts and the people around us. Are we enabling someone else’s harmful behavior? Are we allowing enablers to surround us? The company we keep can push us toward moral compromise or help us stay on the right path. We need to recognize the red flags before it’s too late.
Note: You can find my related article on the role of enablers in pre-World War II Germany here and an article on why we are drawn to anti-heroes here.
This is an excellent observation! Legitimate self-awareness would lead one to surround oneself with people like Nathan, who spoke truth to David's abuse of power, and whose moral compass pointed to heaven. As a student of history, I have always been fascinated by the connection between Roy Cohn and Donald Trump, particularly since Cohn displayed and honed his skills in the service of Senator McCarthy and his campaign of intimidation and lies. The thread between these demagogues was woven by one man.