Alger Hiss was an American lawyer and government official who gained notoriety during the Cold War. Born in 1904, he served in various roles, including as a key figure at the United Nations and the State Department. Hiss was accused of being a spy for the Soviet Union, which led to a highly publicized trial in the late 1940s. The controversy surrounding Hiss intensified when he was convicted of perjury in 1950 for lying about his alleged espionage activities. His case became a symbol of the fear of communism in the United States, influencing public opinion and politics during that era.