As a young woman she was hired by a rich man to decipher supposed hidden messages in Shakespeare manuscripts, there Elizabeth met her husband William Friedman, they helped break the codes during world war I, then breaking the codes during prohibition of the rum runners, during WWII they were instrumental in breaking the Nazi codes and helping to win the war. Hoover useed their skills without giving them recognition. Hoover also alerted the nazis to the fact their codes in Argentinia had been broken by arresting the known transmitters setting back the allies.

William suffered some emotional breakdowns but made it through, Elizabeth lived a long and healthy life.