his second day in office, to cast the single "no" vote in Congress against the Spanish arms embargo. Bernard's vote proved farsighted as the Spanish Civil War became, in many ways, a "dress rehearsal" for World War II. Less known years later were his strong support for the Communist-backed Popular Front: Bernard won election in the Farmer-Labor landslide of 1936 ... and quickly became the most enthusiastic and outspoken advocate of the Popular Front in Congress. Not even other Congressmen who sympathized with the Popular Front underlined their links to the Communist Party by inserting, as Bernard did, articles from the Communist Party's Daily Worker into the Congressional Record. While in office (1937–1939), Bernard's personal secretary in Washington was Marion Bachrach, sister of John Abt, chief counsel of the Communist Party. Former Soviet GRU operative Whittaker Chambers named both Bacharach and Abt among others as members of the Ware Group (his first spy network) during his testimony under subpoena to HUAC on August 3, 1948. That testimony led to the Hiss Case during 1949 and Hiss' conviction in January 1950. Bernard also employed Herman Griffith on his congressional staff. Griffith was a leading Popular Front activist and self-announced CPUSA member. In 1952, Bernard testified under subpoena before HUAC. For most questions, he asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege. He also asserted his loyalty to America and willingness to defend it. In 1977, Bernard accepted membership in the Communist Party USA. See also Minnesota's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts Ware Group Marion Bacharach References External links John Toussaint Bernard papers, 1934-1973 Minnesota PALS Bernard, John Toussaint Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (1774–Present) Bernard, John Toussaint (1893–1983) MNopedia 1893 births 1983 deaths 20th-century American politicians American people of Italian descent American people of Corsican descent Communist Party USA politicians Farmer–Labor Party members of the United States House of Representatives French emigrants to the United States Interwar-period spies Minnesota Farmer–Laborites Members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota People from Bastia People from Corsica People from Eveleth, Minnesota People of the Office of Naval Intelligence World War I spies for the United States