… my century..is unique in the history of men for two reasons. It is the first century since life began when a decisive part of the most articulate section of mankind has not merely ceased to believe in God, but has deliberately rejected God. And it is the century in which this religious rejection has taken a specifically political form….

Witness was a bestseller for more than a year and helped pay off Chambers' legal debts. Certain cover stories that present special difficulties or call for a special literary skill are written by Senior Editor Whittaker Chambers. Since Chambers still presented no evidence the committee had initially been inclined to take the word of Hiss on the matter.

Whittaker Chambers born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers (April 1 1901 – July 9 1961) was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial of Alger Hiss.