The most famous of the cables, dated 30 March 1945, describes ALES, the cover name for an American agent who had been working for Soviet military intelligence since 1935, attended the Yalta conference, and then gone on to Moscow where Soviet Foreign Minister Vyshinsky thanked him for his work. Of the Americans at Yalta who then went to Moscow with Secretary of State Stettinius, only Hiss fits this profile (Ehrman, 6).
In conclusion, the case of Alger Hiss exemplifies the peak of the Red Scare. Due to the paranoia of Communism in America, many government officials were accused of being a Communist or being in the Soviet spy ring. Alger Hiss maintained his claim of innocence until his death in 1996. Regardless if Alger Hiss was innocent or guilty, this case opened up a long lasting distrust between American citizens and the