Date of Birth: November 11, 1904
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Date of Death: November 15, 1996
Biography
Alger Hiss was an American government official who was accused of being a Soviet spy in 1948 and convicted of perjury in connection with this charge in 1950. Born on November 11, 1904, in Baltimore, Maryland, Hiss attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1929. He served in various capacities in the U.S. government, including as a legal assistant to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and as an official in the Department of State. Hiss was a prominent member of the American delegation to the Yalta Conference and served as the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, which led to the creation of the United Nations. His career took a dramatic turn when he was accused by Whittaker Chambers, a former Communist Party member, of being a Soviet spy. This allegation led to a highly publicized trial and Hiss’s eventual conviction for perjury in 1950. Hiss maintained his innocence until his death on November 15, 1996.
5 Interesting Facts about Alger Hiss
1. Alger Hiss was a key figure in the establishment of the United Nations.
2. He was convicted of perjury, not espionage, due to the statute of limitations on espionage charges.
3. Hiss spent 44 months in federal prison and was released in 1954.
4. The Hiss case played a significant role in the rise of Richard Nixon, who was a congressman at the time.
5. Hiss worked as a salesman and later as a lecturer after his release from prison.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Alger Hiss
1. “Until the day I die, I shall wonder how I came to be accused of this crime.”
2. “Prosecution for perjury is not the same as conviction for espionage.”
3. “I am confident that the future will vindicate my innocence.”
4. “I have never been a Communist and I have never been a member of any Communist-front organization.”
5. “The trial was a political witch hunt.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Alger Hiss’s highest net worth was estimated to be modest, as he did not accumulate significant wealth during his career or after his conviction.
Children
Alger Hiss had one son, Tony Hiss, who became a writer and journalist.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography of Alger Hiss](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alger-Hiss
2. [Alger Hiss on History.com](https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/alger-hiss
3. [Alger Hiss – Famous Trials](https://www.famous-trials.com/algerhiss
5. [The Alger Hiss Story – A website by his son Tony Hiss](http://www.algerhiss.com
