John A. Love

John A. Love
Director of the Energy Policy Office
In office
July 16, 1973 – December 4, 1973
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byCharles DiBona (National Energy Office)
Succeeded byWilliam Simon (Federal Energy Office)
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
August 31, 1969 – August 9, 1970
Preceded byBuford Ellington
Succeeded byWarren Hearnes
36th Governor of Colorado
In office
January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973
LieutenantRobert Knous
Mark Hogan
John Vanderhoof
Preceded byStephen McNichols
Succeeded byJohn Vanderhoof
Personal details
BornJohn Arthur Love
(1916-11-29)November 29, 1916
DiedJanuary 21, 2002(2002-01-21) (aged 85)
PartyRepublican
SpouseAnn Daniels
Children3 (including Rebecca)
EducationUniversity of Denver (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

John Arthur Love (November 29, 1916 – January 21, 2002) was an American attorney and Republican politician who served as the 36th Governor of the State of Colorado from 1963 to 1973.

Left to right: President Richard Nixon, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, and John A. Love in the Oval Office, 1973.

Early life and education

Love was born on a farm near Gibson City, Illinois, on November 29, 1916.[1] At age five, he moved with his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver in 1938 and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Denver School of Law in 1941.

He served as a U.S. Navy pilot in World War II for which he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, Love started a law practice in Colorado Springs.[1]

Political career

In 1962, Love defeated incumbent Colorado Governor Stephen McNichols, a Democrat. Love was re-elected governor in 1966 and 1970. Regarded as a moderate, Love signed a bill legalizing abortion in 1967.[2][3]

In 1973, Love resigned the governorship to become the nation's first Director of the Office of Energy Policy (nicknamed the "Energy Czar") in the administration of U.S. President Richard M. Nixon.[4] Lieutenant Governor John D. Vanderhoof assumed the office of governor upon Love's resignation. After only five months as Energy Czar, Love resigned due to the political turmoil in the final days of the Nixon Administration. Historian Daniel Yergin asserts Love was forced to resign by Nixon in favor of William E. Simon due to the energy crisis created in October 1973 by the Arab oil embargo.[5]

Personal life

Love married Ann Daniels in 1942. They had three children: Dan, Andrew and Rebecca.[1]

Love died of pulmonary failure on January 21, 2002, at the age of 85 in Aurora.[1]

See also

Further reading

  • Lamm, Richard D. and Duane A. Smith. Pioneers and Politicians: 10 Colorado Governors in Profile. Boulder, Co.: Pruett Publishing Co., 1984.
  • Love, John A. Collection. 140 c.f., 1963–1973. Denver, Co.: Colorado State Archives.
  • Love, John A. Papers. 4 c.f., 1960–1974. Denver, Co.: Denver Public Library Western History Collection.
  • Love, Ann. Interview / Oral History by Jean Smith and Elaine Walsh, 1975. Denver, Co.: Colorado Historical Society.
  • Love, John A. Interview / Oral History by David McComb, 1974. Denver, Co.: Colorado Historical Society.
  • Love, John A. Interview / Oral History by Barbara Levin and Governor Richard Lamm, 1975. Denver, Co.: Colorado Historical Society.
  • Walker, Donald L. John A. Love: The Story of Colorado's Thirty-Sixth Governor. Denver, Co.: University of Colorado at Denver, 2000.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Martinez, Julia C. (January 23, 2002). "John A. Love 1916-2002 3-Term Governor Fostered Growth". The Denver Post. p. A-01. Retrieved September 4, 2025 – via NewsLibrary.
  2. ^ Associated Press (April 26, 1967). "Colorado Abortion Law Is Signed By Gov. Love". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 4, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Sink, Mindy (January 24, 2002). "John Arthur Love, 85, Governor of Colorado and an Energy Czar, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  4. ^ Brennan, Charlie (January 23, 2002). "'Citizen Governor' John Love, 85, dies". Rocky Mountain News. p. 7A. Retrieved September 4, 2025 – via NewsLibrary.
  5. ^ Yergin, Daniel (1991). The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power. Simon & Schuster. p. 618. ISBN 0-671-79932-0.