Colorado’s governors: John C. Vivian

Our series on Colorado’s governors continues with John C. Vivian, Colorado’s 30th governor. Governor Vivian served two terms from 1943-1947. As part of the State Publications Library’s effort to digitize governors’ addresses, Governor Carr’s 1943 and 1945 inaugural addresses are available in our digital collection.

Early life

John Charles Vivian was born in Golden, Colorado in 1889. His father, John F. Vivian, was an active member of Colorado’s Republican Party by the time John C. was born. John C. Vivian graduated from Golden High School in1905 and attended University of Colorado Boulder. Although he was studying law, Vivian also had a passion for music and played bass drum in CU’s marching band. Vivian later earned his law degree from the Denver University Law School.

Vivian was also a prolific writer. He was the editor of the Boulder branch of the Denver Times while he was in college and wrote for the Rocky Mountain News. Even after pursuing a career as a lawyer, Vivian continued to write poetry under the name “Vivian Varian,” which was nationally published in newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and New York Times.

Vivian shared his love of music with his wife, Maude Charlotte Kleyn, who was a professor at the University of Michigan College of Music before moving to Colorado. Together, they were known to entertain guests at the piano and were supporters of the performing arts in Denver.

Political career

Shortly after obtaining his law degree in 1913, Vivian was appointed City Attorney for Golden. His career was interrupted to serve in the Marines during World War I. After returning home, Vivian became the Jefferson County Attorney. Vivian served as lieutenant governor during Ralph L. Carr’s administration and was nominated to be the Republican Gubernatorial Candidate in 1942, becoming governor in 1943.

Vivian would become known as the “spend nothing governor” because of his fiscally conservative governance. In his 1943 inaugural address, he promised that no new taxes would be enacted. To cut the state’s costs, Vivian reduced the number of state employees and refused to approve increased spending in any state department. His 1945 inaugural address outlines Colorado’s financial situation after the actions his administration took during his first term. By the end of Vivian’s second term, the state’s general fund had a $13 million surplus and a fully funded pension program.

Life after politics

After his second term, Vivian ran for the U.S. Senate in 1948 but was unsuccessful. He went back to practicing law and became the Colorado Chairman of the Citizens Committee for Hoover Report. Governor Vivian died in his birthplace, Golden, in 1964.