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[[Image:454px-Whittaker Chambers.jpg|right|thumb]]

[[Image:454px-Whittaker Chambers.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Whittaker Chambers]]

'''Whittaker Chambers''' (born Jay Vivian Chambers, April 1, 1901 – July 9, 1961) was an American intellectual, editor of Communist publications, foreign editor of ''Time'' magazine, Soviet spy, and the most famous American witness against Communism. He is best known for his accusation and testimony against a senior American diplomat [[Alger Hiss]] charging him in 1948 with being a Soviet spy.  The spectacular case dominated politics in the late 1940s, leading to Hiss's conviction, and the rise of [[Richard Nixon]], and the virulent hatred of the left for Chambers for betraying their friends in the name of patriotism and Christianity. Chambers wrote for [[William Buckley]]'s ''National Review''. His ''Witness'' (1952) is one of the great autobiographies in American literature.

'''Whittaker Chambers''' (born Jay Vivian Chambers, April 1, 1901 – July 9, 1961) was an American intellectual, editor of Communist publications, foreign editor of ''Time'' magazine, Soviet spy, and the most famous American witness against Communism. He is best known for his accusation and testimony against a senior American diplomat [[Alger Hiss]] charging him in 1948 with being a Soviet spy.  The spectacular case dominated politics in the late 1940s, leading to Hiss's conviction, and the rise of [[Richard Nixon]], and the virulent hatred on the left for Chambers for betraying their friends in the name of patriotism and Christianity. Chambers wrote for [[William Buckley]]'s ''National Review''. His ''Witness'' (1952) is one of the great autobiographies in American literature.

==Youth and Education==

==Youth and Education==

After leaving the Communist party, Chambers' politics shifted right. In the late 1930s, Chambers joined the staff of Time Magazine, where he would eventually rise to the position of senior editor and earn a yearly salary of $30,000. While at ''Time'', Chambers became known as a staunch anti-Communist, sometimes enraging his writers with the changes he made to their stories.

After leaving the Communist party, Chambers' politics shifted right. In the late 1930s, Chambers joined the staff of Time Magazine, where he would eventually rise to the position of senior editor and earn a yearly salary of $30,000. While at ''Time'', Chambers became known as a staunch anti-Communist, sometimes enraging his writers with the changes he made to their stories.

In late 1939, after the Soviet Union and Germany signed a non-aggression pact, Chambers approached assistant Secretary of State Adolf Berle and spent three hours detailing what he knew about Communist activity within the United States. In the wake of [[World War II]], Chambers' story was mostly ignored.

In late 1939, after the Soviet Union and Germany signed a non-aggression pact, Chambers approached assistant Secretary of State [[Adolf Berle]] and spent three hours detailing what he knew about Communist activity within the United States. In the wake of [[World War II]], Chambers' story was mostly ignored.

Chambers translated Felix Salten's children's book, Bambi, in 1927 while editing at the ''Daily Worker''.  As recounted on page 239 of ''Witness'', Chambers did so because wages on the ''Daily Worker'' were "intermittent and so small." He was asked to do the translation by Clifton Fadiman of Simon and Schuster, and the translation became an instant success, thus making Chambers an established translator.  Chambers also wrote reviews of the early volumes of Arnold Toynbee's ''[[A Study of History]]''.

Chambers translated Felix Salten's children's book, Bambi, in 1927 while editing at the ''Daily Worker''.  As recounted on page 239 of ''Witness'', Chambers did so because wages on the ''Daily Worker'' were "intermittent and so small." He was asked to do the translation by Clifton Fadiman of Simon and Schuster, and the translation became an instant success, thus making Chambers an established translator.  Chambers also wrote reviews of the early volumes of Arnold Toynbee's ''[[A Study of History]]''.

==Witness==

==Witness==

Personal financial pressures resulting from the legal battles Chambers endured at the hands of Hiss and the American Communist movement led Chambers to author his autobiography, ''Witness''.

Personal financial pressures resulting from the legal battles Chambers endured at the hands of Hiss and the American Communist movement led Chambers to author his autobiography, [["Witness"]].

Since its release in 1952, it has been reviewed thusly:

Since its release in 1952, it has been reviewed thusly:

While the Hiss trial propelled Nixon's political career, Chambers derived little benefit from it. His job at ''Time'' gone, Chambers went to work on his farm, writing his autobiography, ''Witness,'' which was published in 1952.

While the Hiss trial propelled Nixon's political career, Chambers derived little benefit from it. His job at ''Time'' gone, Chambers went to work on his farm, writing his autobiography, ''Witness,'' which was published in 1952.

Critics of Chambers, then and now, maintain that his life was a paradox and he experienced so many changes of lifestyle and philosophy that his testimony was unreliable and self serving.   

Critics of Chambers, then and now, maintain that his life was a paradox and he experienced so many changes of lifestyle and philosophy that his testimony was unreliable and self-serving.   

Before his death, Chambers served briefly as senior editor of [[William F. Buckley Jr.]]'s ''[[National Review]].''

Before his death, Chambers served briefly as senior editor of [[William F. Buckley Jr.]]'s ''[[National Review]].''

==Members of the Karl group==

==Members of the Karl group==

"Karl" and "Carl" were cryptonyms used by Chambers in the mid-1930s as courier between the [[CPUSA]] secret apparatus and Soviet intelligence.  It appears that after the mysterious death of the NKVD Illegal Rezident [[Valentin Markin]] in August 1934, within days the Karl group was transfered to the GRU Illegal Rezident [[Boris Bykov]].  Below is a partial list of members.

"Karl" and "Carl" were cryptonyms used by Chambers in the mid-1930s as courier between the [[CPUSA]] secret apparatus and Soviet intelligence.  It appears that after the mysterious death of the NKVD Illegal Rezident [[Valentin Markin]] in August 1934, within days the Karl group was transferred to the GRU Illegal Rezident [[Boris Bykov]].  Below is a partial list of members.

*[[Noel Field]], United States Department of State

*[[Noel Field]], United States Department of State

* Kimmage, Michael. ''The Conservative Turn: Lionel Trilling, Whittaker Chambers, and the Lessons of Anti-Communism'' (2009)

* Kimmage, Michael. ''The Conservative Turn: Lionel Trilling, Whittaker Chambers, and the Lessons of Anti-Communism'' (2009)

* Swan, Patrick. ''Alger Hiss, Whittaker Chambers, and the Schism in the American Soul'' (2003) by a conservative

* Swan, Patrick. ''Alger Hiss, Whittaker Chambers, and the Schism in the American Soul'' (2003) by a conservative

* Tanenhaus, Sam. ''Whittaker Chambers: A Biography'' (1998), outstanding scholarly biography; by a conservative [http://www.amazon.com/Whittaker-Chambers-Biography-Library-Paperbacks/dp/0375751459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253962730&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Tanenhaus, Sam. ''Whittaker Chambers: A Biography'' (1998), outstanding scholarly biography; by a conservative [https://www.amazon.com/Whittaker-Chambers-Biography-Library-Paperbacks/dp/0375751459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253962730&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Weinstein, Allen. ''Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case'' (1978), the standard scholarly study; by a conservative

* Weinstein, Allen. ''Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case'' (1978), the standard scholarly study; by a conservative

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Witness'' (1952)

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Witness'' (1952)

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Odyssey of a Friend - Whittaker Chambers' Letters to William F. Buckley, Jr. 1954-1961'' ed. by William F. Buckley (1969)

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Odyssey of a Friend - Whittaker Chambers' Letters to William F. Buckley, Jr. 1954-1961'' ed. by William F. Buckley (1969)

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Notes from the Underground: The Whittaker Chambers/Ralph de Toledano Letters, 1949-1960'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Notes-Underground-Whittaker-Chambers-1949-1960/dp/0895264250/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253962730&sr=1-6 excerpt and text search]

* Chambers, Whittaker. ''Notes from the Underground: The Whittaker Chambers/Ralph de Toledano Letters, 1949-1960'' (1997) [https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Underground-Whittaker-Chambers-1949-1960/dp/0895264250/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253962730&sr=1-6 excerpt and text search]

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Alger Hiss]]

* [[Alger Hiss]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]

[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]