Lot 135
Hiss, Alger - The McCarthy Era Alleged Communist Spy Whose Case Jump-started Richard Nixon's Career (1904-1996) U.S. State Department official convicted of perjury in January 1950 regarding his dealings with Whittaker Chambers, who accused Hiss of membership in a communist espionage ring. His case came at a time of growing apprehension about the domestic influence of communism and seemed to lend substance to Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's sensational claims of communist infiltration into the State Department. The case also brought to national attention Richard M. Nixon, a first-term Republican congressman from California who was prominent in the investigation that led to the indictment of Hiss.
Long autograph letter signed, 2 ½ pages, 5 x 8 in., New York, May 11,1950. Hiss writes this unpublished letter to a friend (Reverend) Dr. (Walter) Bennett.
Included are two letters by Hiss's wife, Priscilla, related to his appeal and sentence, a 1954 Christmas card in the hand of Priscilla, and a letter from his lawyer, Chester Lane, dated March 20, 1952, to Dr. Bennett thanking him for encouragement and stating, "In these days, fighting a case with the overtones and passion and prejudice of the Hiss case is a rather lonely and unpopular business…". Estimate Value $600 - 800
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