Alger Hiss
Definition
Alger Hiss was a U.S. State Department official who was accused of being a Soviet spy in 1948 and convicted of perjury related to this charge in 1950.
Analogy
Imagine if you were playing a game of chess, but one player is secretly helping your opponent plan their moves. Alger Hiss would be like this secret helper, providing assistance to the Soviets while working within the U.S. government.
Related terms
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives which investigated allegations of communist activity in the U.S during the early years of the Cold War.
Perjury: The offense of willfully telling an untruth or making a misrepresentation under oath; what Alger Hiss was ultimately convicted for.
Richard Nixon: An American politician who played a key role in exposing Alger Hiss' alleged espionage activities before becoming Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower and later serving as President himself.
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