Joachim Octave Fernández (August 14, 1896 – August 8, 1978) was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

. He was a Democrat.

Son of Octave Gonzales Fernandez and Mary (Benson) Fernandez;Fernández was born in New Orleans. Married, June 3, 1920, to Viola Murray. He began his political career as a member of the Old Regular

Regular Democratic Organization

The Regular Democratic Organization , or Old Regulars, or the New Orleans Ring, is a conservative political organization based in New Orleans. It has existed for 130 years and as of 2006 is still active. The symbol of the RDO is the rooster...

 political machine and was a state senator under New Orleans mayor T. Semmes Walmsley

T. Semmes Walmsley

Thomas Semmes Walmsley was Mayor of New Orleans from July 1929 to June 1936. He is best known for his intense rivalry with Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long.- Early life and career :...

. In 1930 he defected to the camp of Walmsley's enemy, governor Huey Long

Huey Long

Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...

. He became Long's Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward of New Orleans

The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans....

 political boss, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1930 with Long's support. He lost his seat in 1940 to reform candidate Felix Edward Hébert

Felix Edward Hébert

Felix Edward Hébert , known as F. Edward Hébert, was the longest-serving member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Louisiana, having represented the New Orleans-based First Congressional District as a Democrat from 1941 until his retirement in 1977.Hébert was born in...

.
Delegate to Louisiana state constitutional convention, 1921; member of Louisiana state house of representatives, 1924-28; member of Louisiana state senate, 1928-30; U.S. Representative from Louisiana 1st District, 1931-41; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1936; served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He served in the Second World War as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

, and was the collector of internal revenue for New Orleans from 1943 to 1946. In the election of 1946

New Orleans mayoral election, 1946

The New Orleans mayoral election of 1946 was held on January 22, 1946. It resulted in the defeat of incumbent mayor Robert Maestri and the election of deLesseps Morrison as Mayor of New Orleans.- Background :...

, Fernandez briefly served as the reform candidate against New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri

Robert Maestri

Robert Sidney Maestri was mayor of New Orleans from 1936 to 1946 and a key ally of Huey P. Long, Jr., and Earl Kemp Long.- Early life :...

, but he withdrew from the race at the last minute after being bought off by Maestri's offer to pay his campaign expenses.
Catholic. Hispanic ancestry. Member, American Legion. Died in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., August 8, 1978. Interment at Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, La.
Fernández was known as "Bathtub Joe" Fernández for his habit of avoiding calls from reporters by claiming he was in the bath.