Book SummaryThe Longest Con, by Joe Conason

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Longest Con

The historical development and proliferation of dishonest tactics and falsehoods within conservative circles, especially within the Republican Party's membership.

The section of the book delves into the origins of modern conservative subterfuge, tracing its roots back to the era of McCarthy and examining the influence of figures like Roy Cohn. Conason underscores the dangerous precedent set by their exploitative employment of dread and hostility toward communism, which laid the groundwork for future conservative leaders to foster a climate in which dishonesty and a lack of accountability flourished, a tactic that was later honed by figures including Donald Trump.

Roy Cohn's lasting impact on figures including Donald Trump.

Conason highlights the long shadow cast by Roy Cohn, the infamous lawyer and political fixer who served as a mentor to Donald Trump. Joe Conason suggests that Trump's outlook and his propensity to disregard ethical standards and legal boundaries were profoundly molded under the tutelage of Cohn. Joe Conason meticulously follows Cohn's professional journey, which began with his role aiding Senator Joseph McCarthy and culminated in his reputation as a controversial attorney for mobsters, property tycoons, and eventually, Donald Trump.

The work by Joe Conason delves into how Cohn managed to avoid consequences for his actions, despite being a notorious lawyer with ties to both prominent political figures and the criminal underworld.

Joe Conason depicts Roy Cohn as a lawyer whose relentless pursuit of victory in the courtroom was marked by a blatant indifference to ethical or judicial limits. He underscores the strong connections with individuals involved in organized crime, including the notorious Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno, who reportedly had frequent meetings with him at his law office. Conason also details the skillful way in which Cohn leveraged his relationships with influential politicians, leading figures in the media, and business executives to avoid facing consequences for his unlawful deeds.

Joe Conason's book details how Cohn abused his role on the Senate staff by indulging in a publicly financed extravagant European trip.

Joe Conason recounts the notorious 1953 trip to Europe in which Cohn, along with David Schine, a rich heir whose understanding of communism was questionable, professed to be examining libraries of the US Information Service for content that was considered disloyal to American ideals. The narrative depicts the quest as one motivated by personal gain, marked by arrogant behavior and lavish spending of government funds, resulting in no significant findings. Joe Conason argues that this event demonstrated Cohn's eagerness to use his position for his own benefit, indicating a deep disregard for the public's well-being.

Cohn's contempt for established legal norms set a precedent that paved the way for future conservative swindlers and charlatans to gain prominence.

Conason suggests that Cohn's lasting influence is clear through his mentorship of prominent right-wing individuals, including Roger Stone. Joe Conason argues that Cohn instilled a belief in them that engaging in deceit, disregarding rules, and behaving dishonestly could be done with impunity, and that such behavior was not only possible but also praiseworthy. Conason suggests that Donald Trump's ascent to the presidency was greatly aided by the rise of a fresh group of conservative fraudsters and charlatans, flourishing in an environment where disdain for ethical norms and legal boundaries was evident.

A group arose, steadfastly positioning themselves as opponents of Communism, fueled by the manipulation of anxieties and unfounded conspiracy beliefs.

This section of the narrative explores how people capitalized on the widespread dread of communism to create exceptionally profitable businesses. Conason focuses on figures like Billy James Hargis and Fred Schwarz, who marketed themselves as experts on the communist threat, using their supposed expertise to fleece their predominantly elderly and middle-class conservative audiences with a barrage of books, pamphlets, tapes, and seminars.

Billy James Hargis, along with Fred Schwarz, leveraged the supposed threat of communism, taking advantage of widespread fears to turn a profit.

Conason suggests that figures like Billy James Hargis and Fred Schwarz were able to profit significantly by exploiting the prevalent fear and mistrust, presenting themselves as the exclusive defenders against an exaggerated threat of communism. He portrays their convincing strategies, marked by rousing rhetoric, captivating stories, and dire predictions, all delivered with a captivating allure that resonated deeply with their audience. Conason emphasizes that the initiatives led by Hargis and Schwarz, which started on a small scale, expanded over time to encompass a wide array of media outlets, including the production of books, pamphlets, recordings, newsletters, and radio and television...

The Longest Con Summary Religious figures seeking to exploit the situation have formed an alliance with conservative political groups, illustrating the intersection of faith, governance, and financial gain.

In this section, the narrative shifts focus to explore the evolving interplay between politics in the United States and faith-based ideologies, underscoring the impact of a robust conservative religious movement on reshaping the conservative landscape and transforming the foundational principles and strategies within the GOP. Conason explores the profound mistrust, deceit, and manipulation that characterized the alliance, highlighting how certain religious leaders deviated from their holy teachings to mislead their followers in pursuit of authority and financial profit.

Prominent religious leaders, including Jerry Falwell, joined forces with political tacticians such as Richard Viguerie.

This section of the text delves into the pivotal role played by political tacticians such as Richard Viguerie in mobilizing leaders of the evangelical movement to achieve political goals. Conason highlights the unlikely alliance between Jerry Falwell, an influential Baptist pastor, and Viguerie, a shrewd direct-mail entrepreneur who saw the evangelical community as a goldmine for right-wing fundraising. He argues that this partnership was crucial in integrating religious influence deeply...

The Longest Con Summary Experienced swindlers exploited and steered authentic grassroots movements rooted in conservative values, which, along with the rapid expansion of conservative fundraising, media, and lobbying initiatives, led to the creation of vast empires.

This section of the book delves into the cunning exploitation of conservative grassroots groups by fraudsters for their own monetary benefit, highlighting the crucial role that fundraising, the utilization of various communication channels, and the involvement of advocacy groups had in the growth and exploitation of their dishonest schemes. Conason delves into how certain individuals have strategically altered principles that were traditionally associated with conservatism—such as limited government, personal freedom, and traditional values—to gain financial support and influence from their backers.

Richard Viguerie pioneered a method of employing postal correspondence as a means of raising funds, which was instrumental in creating a lucrative structure for securing financial backing from conservative supporters.

This excerpt highlights the way in which Richard Viguerie, a shrewd businessman, revolutionized the fundraising strategies for conservative initiatives, using techniques that are still extensively utilized today. Conason emphasizes the way in which forceful tactics, characterized by emotional provocation, exaggerated claims, and impassioned appeals, allowed the...

The Longest Con Summary Donald Trump's long history of deceit and his tendency to inflate his own importance serve as a stark illustration of the broader decline in moral principles among conservatives and how they sway their supporters.

This segment of the narrative intertwines different themes, particularly focusing on the development of Donald Trump's political endeavors. In his depiction, Conason characterizes Trump as someone who has consistently pursued self-interest through deception, showing a clear disregard for ethical and legal norms. He suggests that while Trump exhibits characteristics often seen in conservative fraudsters, he maintains a unique personal identity. Conason suggests that the assertion about Trump exceeding the accomplishments of past leaders is somewhat misleading, given that his tactics primarily involve intensifying and expanding upon their methods. The decline in moral direction, essential to conservative principles, has been greatly intensified by the uncertainty arising from the behavior of Trump.

Donald Trump embraced the philosophies of Roy Cohn and similarly disregarded ethical and legal limits.

Conason suggests that Roy Cohn, a person whom Trump frequently praises for his aggressive tenacity and tendency to ignore legal limits, has played a substantial role in shaping the path of Trump's business and political pursuits. He emphasizes that their approach, characterized by...