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.

John 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
Born
John Arthur Love

(1916-11-29)November 29, 1916
near Gibson City, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2002(2002-01-21) (aged 85)
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAnn Daniels
Children2 (including Rebecca)
EducationUniversity of Denver (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Left to right: President Richard Nixon, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, and John A. Love in the Oval Office, 1973.

Early life and education

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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.

Family

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Love married Ann Daniels in 1942 and the couple had three children, Dan, Andrew and Rebecca. Rebecca grew up to serve as a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1995 to 2006. Andrew Love served 37 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 2004 as a major general.

Political career

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In 1962, Love defeated incumbent Colorado Governor Stephen McNichols, a Democrat. Love was re-elected governor in 1966 and 1970. In 1967, he signed the first liberalized abortion bill in the United States into law.[2]

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. 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.[3]

Death

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Love died in Aurora, Colorado on January 21, 2002, at the age of 85.

See also

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Further reading

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Martinez, Julia C. "John A. Love 1916-2002 3-Term Governor Fostered Growth." The Denver Post, January 23, 2002, A-01.
  2. ^ "26 Apr 1967, Page 2 - Lincoln Journal Star at". Newspapers.com. 1967-04-26. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  3. ^ Yergin, Daniel (1991). The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power. Simon & Schuster. p. 618. ISBN 0-671-79932-0.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Colorado
1962, 1966, 1970
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Republican Governors Association
1966–1967
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Colorado
1963–1973
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the National Governors Association
1969–1970
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Charles DiBona
as Director of the National Energy Office
Director of the Energy Policy Office
1973
Succeeded byas Director of the Federal Energy Office