Allen Weinstein (1937–2015)

An in-depth look at the case involving accusations (directly) of perjury against State Department official Alger Hiss, and (indirectly) further accusations that he passed material to Soviet intelligence at various points in the 1930s. The author does a very good job of analyzing both Hiss' background, and that of Whitaker Chambers, the Time editor who made the accusations in spectacular fashion in 1948. The author flat out states, at the very end, that he believes Hiss committed perjury, and show more he did a very good job of laying out the case that Hiss was playing a very shifty game in his testimony. The author doesn't shy away from the fact that Chambers wasn't a perfect witness, either, and had major faults, but the evidence laid out, in my view, is compelling. Definitely recommended, especially as a counter to many apologia for Hiss that emerged in the Watergate era. show less

3385 Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case, by Allen Weinstein (read 2 Jan 2001) After on July 11, 1998, I read with much appreciation Sam Tanenhaus' superlative biography of Whittaker Chambers I wanted to read this book, but only now have done so. It is a tour de force and is very convincing. One thinks, in view of Hiss's lifelong assertion of innocence, there is a reasonable doubt as to his guilt, but when one looks at the evidence it is clear he is guilty. i think this book demolishes all the show more pro-Hiss arguments. It is a fascinating subject. and especially the accounts of the trials--the first one where the jury hung (the foreman was convinced of Hiss's innocence before the trial began) and the second, where Hiss was easily convicted. This is a most worthwhile book. When this book came out, in 1978, the tide which since Watergate had been turning in Hiss' favor, quit rising. show less

As with all DK books, this book is very informative and discriptive. I enjoy the way the writers present the history of America in such a straight-forward and discriptive way. Filled with thousands of illustration, DK makes it fun and interesting to learn your history. I simply didn't know where to begin to read this book, for my interest was so impatient to turn the pages and learn and be fascinated by so many informative facts.

Although Nasvasky raised some real questions Weinstein accurately reported testimony from certain veteran Communists, overall, I have no doubt
ththat Weinstein's basic conclusion --that Hiss was guilty -- is correct.
This is less from reading this book than from reading In Re Alger
Hiss, compiled by Hiss's supporters from documents obtained from the
FBI, which demonstrate (to me at least) that the FBI knew nothing
about the famous typewriter until Hiss's defense produced it, and in
fact the FBI show more was deeply suspicious of it when it was produced.
There are other details (some of which I no lonfer recall) which were
very much against Hiss. I told him so once in person and Hiss had no
real reply. My feeling is that Hiss's real defense (which he never
made) was that sharing information with a potential ally (which
ttthe USSR was at the time) is by no means as bad as sharing data
with a potential enemy (as the USSR was by the time Hiss was on trial.( show less