Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
Join us for a conversation about the enduringinfluence of Roy Cohn, as explored in American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trumpby Kai Bird. From his role in the prosecution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and his rise alongside Senator Joe McCarthy, to his ties to organized crime, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and the young Donald Trump, Cohn was a fixture at the center of American power for more than three decades. The discussion will explore how Cohn’s ruthless methods, political instincts, and talent for cultivating powerful allies shaped an era—and continue to reverberate in American politics today. The conversation will feature Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark and will be moderated by David Ignatius.
The Susan and John Klein Book Series is a public series presented by the Aspen Society at the Aspen Institute’s Washington, D.C. headquarter offices. Focusing on topics aligned with the Institute’s mission and values, the series brings together distinguished authors to discuss their latest works, inspiring dialogue, leadership, and action on society’s greatest challenges. The Aspen Institute is grateful to Susan and John Klein for their generous support of this series.
