The Domestic spying case of Alger Hiss (1949-1950) an American Government Official working in the U.S State Department Heightened the Public Fear of Communist infiltration in the Federal Government.
Alger Hiss was accused of being a Soviet spy and was convicted of perjury (falsifying an affirmation-swearing a false oath) in connection with his accusation of being a Soviet Spy
Alger Hiss did not match the profile of a Soviet spy, Hiss was well educated from an old American family and was well connected in the Government, his trial and eventual conviction raised the widespread fear of Communist influence infiltrating in the US government a fear that represented the Red Scare Period (1947-1957).