The rise of Gary Cohn, from Midwestern kid to Goldman Sachs boss - and now key adviser to President Trump

Gary Cohn, the former chief operating officer and president of Goldman Sachs, is growing his influence in the Trump administration as the director of the National Economic Council.

President Donald Trump recently reversed his opinions on key economic issues, including labeling China a currency manipulator, and whether Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was a essentially a political stooge.

These turnarounds signaled that some of Trump's hardline populist and "economic nationalist" stances are being swayed by Cohn and others with Wall Street experience that have a more pragmatic view on things.

Cohn's position in Washington marks the latest stage in a rather incredible journey. As a kid with dyslexia who grew up in a middle-class family in Ohio, no one would've expected Cohn to reach the heights he has in his professional career.

As Cohn continues this new phase of his career, here are some of the most interesting snippets from his rise to the top.

Prashanth Perumal contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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