John Bernard (American Politician)

John Bernard (American Politician)

John Toussaint Bernard (March 6, 1893, Bastia – August 6, 1983) was a United States Representative from Minnesota.

A native of the French island of Corsica, Bernard was born in 1893 in the town of Bastia. Moving to the United States in 1907, he would later work as an iron miner before enlisting in the United States Army during World War I. Following the war he worked as a municipal fireman in Eveleth, Minnesota. He did not run for office until 1936, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Farmer-Labor Party. He served in the 75th congress, (January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939). He was not reelected in 1938.

He was noted for casting the sole vote against an arms embargo against Spain during the Spanish Civil War. His personal secretary in Washington was Marion Bachrach of the Ware group. Bernard decades later openly professed membership in the Communist Party USA.