Abstract. Let n be a fixed positive integer and h : {1, 2, . . . , n} → {1, 2, . . . , n} a Hessenberg function. The main results of this paper are twofold. First, we give a systematic method, depending in a simple manner on the Hessenberg function h, for producing an explicit presentation by generators and relations of the cohomology ring H * (Hess(N, h)) with Q coefficients of the corresponding regular nilpotent Hessenberg variety Hess(N, h). Our result generalizes known results in special cases such as the Peterson variety and also allows us to answer a question posed by Mbirika and Tymoczko. Moreover, our list of generators in fact forms a regular sequence, allowing us to use techniques from commutative algebra in our arguments. Our second main result gives an isomorphism between the cohomology ring H * (Hess(N, h)) of the regular nilpotent Hessenberg variety and the Sn-invariant subring H * (Hess(S, h)) Sn of the cohomology ring of the regular semisimple Hessenberg variety (with respect to the Sn-action on H * (Hess(S, h)) defined by Tymoczko). Our second main result implies that dim Q H k (Hess(N, h)) = dim Q H k (Hess(S, h)) Sn for all k and hence partially proves the Shareshian-Wachs conjecture in combinatorics, which is in turn related to the well-known Stanley-Stembridge conjecture. A proof of the full Shareshian-Wachs conjecture was recently given by Brosnan and Chow, but in our special case, our methods yield a stronger result (i.e. an isomorphism of rings) by more elementary considerations. This paper provides detailed proofs of results we recorded previously in a research announcement.