It's August 1948 at the Hotel Commodore in New York, the House on American Activities

Committee, or HUAC, has assembled in room 1400 to gather evidence against Alger Hiss, a

former State Department employee.

Hiss sits in a chair across from a stenographer, several investigators, and a handful of stern

phased United States Congressmen.

Mr. Hiss, we're here today to determine the truth or falsity of testimony given by Mr.

Whitaker Chambers.

Whitaker Chambers, a confessed former communist, has accused Hiss of being a communist spy.

Hiss says Chambers is lying.

He says he doesn't know Chambers, and when shown a picture of him, Hiss doesn't recognize

Chambers.

So either Hiss is lying, or Chambers is.

One freshman congressman from California is determined to get the truth.

To clarify Mr. Hiss, the purpose of this hearing is for the purpose of identification only,

but identification is not the only purpose.

There's a lot on the line with Alger Hiss.

HUAC has made several attempts to prove the legitimacy of the domestic communist threat,

but most of their efforts have come up short and have come under fire from President

Truman.

HUAC's detractors say that the committee is purposefully exaggerating the threat, creating communist

hysteria.

But the freshman congressman from California is a true believer.

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