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American Studies UWA ·
AS30020: America in the era
of the Cold War
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Why
was the state department such a target for anti – communist hysteria? What was
the domestic political significance of the Alger Hiss case?
Why
the State department?
- People with
power had links to important information the would be vital for the soviets
to get hold of.
- Men with power
who were open to bribes and corruption.
- People looked up
to the leaders of the country, didn’t look good if some were linked to
communist societies. Made government
look weak - therefore America looked weak.
- Struggle from
cold war
- It was time where people who had grudges got rid of their
rivals. Within the government
there must have been a lot of people with grudges or revenge/vendettas to be
paid.
The
Domestic Political significance of the Alger Hiss case
- Liberals
believed and defended him in his innocence – Made them vulnerable to
attack – allowed republicans to get in to office because they were dead
against Hiss, Nixon accused Hiss of being a Russian spy – looked more like
they were trying to get a better America.
- Hiss was a
Harvard law graduate – an epitome of the elite ruling class
- He was composed
- Well mannered
and part of the Roosevelt administration
- Therefore
American people started to question whether other people of such high
intelligence and stature in society were corrupt.
- This also showed
that anyone could be ‘turned’
- Newspapers/the
media loved it – He was in the homes of the American people.
They could see everything that was going on – added to the hysteria
of the time. http://homepages.nyu.edu/~th15/
- Trial was “
one of the most sensational political trials”
- Both Elizabeth
Bentley and Chambers testified against Hiss saying that he was a member of
the CP during the Popular front era of the 1930’s. Hiss denied this!
- Chambers
dramatically produced secret documents some with Hiss’ handwriting on –
he had hidden them in a hollowed out pumpkin on his Maryland farm.
- Jury issued
Perjury indictment against Hiss for denying Chambers allegations
- Chambers and
Hiss = 2 Figures of cold war morality.
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American Studies UWA ·