Al Gore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Gore
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Official portrait, 1994
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| 45th Vice President of the United States | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Dan Quayle |
| Succeeded by | Dick Cheney |
| United States Senator from Tennessee |
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| In office January 3, 1985 – January 2, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Howard Baker |
| Succeeded by | Harlan Mathews |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Joe L. Evins |
| Succeeded by | Bart Gordon |
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| Personal details | |
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Albert Arnold Gore Jr.
March 31, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Karenna and Kristin |
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| Education |
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| Civilian awards | Full list |
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| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Specialist 4 |
| Unit | 20th Engineer Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Military awards |
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Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist. He served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a U.S. senator.
Gore was the Democratic candidate in the 2000 presidential election. He lost to George W. Bush despite winning more votes from the public. After his time as vice president, Gore became a well-known author and environmental activist. His important work on climate change activism earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Gore is also known for the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. In 2024, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden.
Contents
- Growing Up and School Days
- Serving His Country and Becoming a Reporter
- A Young Leader in Congress
- A Difficult Time and a Bestselling Book
- First Try for President (1988)
- Joining Bill Clinton's Team (1992)
- Serving as Vice President (1993–2001)
- Running for President Again (2000)
- Life After the White House (2001–Present)
- Family Life
- Awards and Special Recognitions
- Books
- See also
Growing Up and School Days
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. was born on March 31, 1948, in Washington, D.C.. He was the second child of Albert Gore Sr., who was a U.S. Representative and later a U.S. Senator from Tennessee. His mother, Pauline LaFon Gore, was one of the first women to graduate from Vanderbilt University Law School.
During the school year, Gore lived with his family in Washington, D.C. In the summer, he worked on the family farm in Carthage, Tennessee. There, they grew crops like tobacco and hay, and raised cattle.
Gore attended St. Albans School, a school for boys in Washington, D.C. He played football, threw discus for the track team, and participated in basketball and art. He graduated in 1965 and was accepted into Harvard University.
Learning at Harvard
Gore started at Harvard College in 1965. He first wanted to study English and write novels, but later chose to major in government. He was elected president of his freshman student government council. One of his roommates was future actor Tommy Lee Jones.
Gore enjoyed reading about science and math, even though he found science classes challenging. In his later years at college, he focused more on his studies. During his senior year, he took a class with oceanographer Roger Revelle. This class sparked Gore's interest in global warming and other environmental issues. He wrote his final paper on how television affected the presidency. He graduated in 1969.
While in college, many students protested the Vietnam War. Gore was against the war but did not join the student protests. He believed it was not the right way to express anger about the war. In 1968, he helped his father write an anti-war speech for the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Serving His Country and Becoming a Reporter
Military Service in Vietnam
After graduating in 1969, Gore was eligible for the military draft. His father was a strong critic of the Vietnam War and was running for re-election. Gore decided to enlist in the United States Army. He felt it was important to serve his country and that someone else with fewer choices shouldn't have to go in his place.
After basic training, Gore was assigned as a journalist at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In January 1971, he was sent to Vietnam. He worked as a journalist with The Castle Courier for the 20th Engineer Brigade in Biên Hòa. He received an honorable discharge from the Army in May 1971. Gore later said he was proud to wear his country's uniform.
College and Journalism
After returning from Vietnam, Gore felt a bit lost. He attended Vanderbilt University Divinity School to explore "spiritual issues." In 1971, he also started working as an investigative reporter for The Tennessean newspaper. His reporting helped uncover corruption among local officials, leading to arrests.
In 1974, he took a break from journalism to attend Vanderbilt University Law School. He realized that while he could expose problems as a reporter, becoming a lawyer might help him change things. However, in 1976, he decided to leave law school to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A Young Leader in Congress
Representing Tennessee
Al Gore began serving in the U.S. Congress at the age of 28. He spent 16 years there, first in the House of Representatives (1977–1985) and then in the Senate (1985–1993). He often spent weekends in Tennessee, working with the people he represented.
In 1976, Gore won the election for Tennessee's 4th congressional district. He was re-elected three times. In 1984, he successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate. He won easily, even though the Republican President Ronald Reagan also won Tennessee that year.
During his time in Congress, Gore was known for his balanced views. He supported the bill to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. He also voted against the nominations of some judges to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Working on Technology and the Environment
Gore was considered one of the Atari Democrats. This name was given to politicians who were very interested in technology, like biomedical research and the environmental impact of the "greenhouse effect". In 1979, he became the first member of Congress to appear on C-SPAN.
He worked to promote high-speed communication and computer networks. Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn said that Gore helped create the idea of how computer communication could benefit everyone. He introduced the Supercomputer Network Study Act of 1986. As a Senator, Gore created the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, also known as "The Gore Bill." This bill led to the National Information Infrastructure, which Gore called the "information superhighway."
Gore also held the first congressional hearings on climate change and global warming. In 1990, he led a conference with lawmakers from over 42 countries. They aimed to create a Global Marshall Plan to help developing countries grow while protecting the environment.
A Difficult Time and a Bestselling Book
On April 3, 1989, a car hit Al and Tipper Gore's six-year-old son, Albert. The accident was very serious, and the Gores spent a month in the hospital with Albert. Gore later described it as a "shattering" event that changed his life.
In August 1991, Gore announced that his son's accident was a reason he decided not to run for president in 1992. He felt it was important to focus on his family. During this time, Gore wrote Earth in the Balance. This book became a bestseller, making it the first book by a sitting U.S. Senator to reach The New York Times Best Seller list since John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage.
First Try for President (1988)
In 1988, Gore sought the Democratic Party's nomination to become President of the United States. He won in seven states during the primary elections. However, he finished third overall, and Michael Dukakis eventually won the nomination. Dukakis then lost the general election to George H. W. Bush. At 39 years old, Gore was one of the youngest serious presidential candidates at that time.
Joining Bill Clinton's Team (1992)
Gore was at first unsure about becoming Bill Clinton's running mate for the 1992 United States presidential election. However, after disagreements with the George H. W. Bush administration about global warming, he accepted the offer. Clinton chose Gore because of his experience in foreign policy, his work on the environment, and his dedication to his family.
Many people thought Clinton's choice was unusual because both he and Gore were from the South and had similar political ideas. However, their partnership was very successful. Clinton and Gore accepted their nominations at the Democratic National Convention on July 17, 1992. They were known as the Baby Boomer Ticket and the Fortysomething Team. If elected, they would be the youngest team to reach the White House in U.S. history.
The Clinton-Gore ticket won the election against George H. W. Bush and Dan Quayle. They received 43% of the popular vote and 370 electoral votes.
Serving as Vice President (1993–2001)
Working Closely with President Clinton
Al Gore served as vice president during the Clinton administration. Clinton and Gore were sworn into office on January 20, 1993. They had a very close working relationship. President Clinton met regularly with Gore and considered him a main advisor. Gore was involved in decision-making more than most vice presidents.
Gore was especially interested in making the government more efficient. He wanted to reduce waste and make the government smaller. During the Clinton presidency, the U.S. economy grew significantly. This success was partly due to Gore's continued efforts to promote information technology.
Promoting Technology and Protecting the Environment
During his time as vice president, Gore helped make the term "Information Superhighway" popular. This term became another name for the Internet. He was involved in creating the National Information Infrastructure. The Clinton–Gore administration also launched the first official White House website in 1994.
Gore also worked on many environmental projects. On Earth Day 1994, he launched the GLOBE program. This program used the Internet to help students learn more about their environment. In 1998, he promoted a NASA satellite that would provide a constant view of Earth.
Gore strongly supported the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gasses. However, the U.S. Senate had concerns about the treaty. The Clinton administration left office without the treaty being officially approved by the Senate.
In the 1996 United States presidential election, Clinton and Gore were re-elected. They won against Republican candidates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp. They received 379 electoral votes and won the popular vote by a large margin.
Running for President Again (2000)
The Campaign Trail
On June 16, 1999, Al Gore officially announced he was running for president. His main message was about strengthening American families. He faced a challenge from former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley in the Democratic primaries. Gore won every primary and caucus, securing the Democratic nomination.
On August 13, 2000, Gore announced that Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut would be his running mate. Lieberman was the first person of the Jewish faith to run for the nation's second-highest office. Gore's daughter, Karenna, and his former Harvard roommate, Tommy Lee Jones, officially nominated him at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Gore accepted the nomination and spoke about his plans for healthcare and prescription drugs.
The "Inventing the Internet" Story
During a 1999 interview, Gore spoke about his work in Congress. He said, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." This quote was later misunderstood and led to a widely spread story that Gore claimed to have "invented the Internet."
Many computer experts and former colleagues defended Gore. Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn said that Gore's efforts in Congress had a "significant and beneficial effect on the still-evolving Internet." Former Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, also stated that Gore "most systematically worked to make sure that we got to an Internet." Gore himself later made jokes about the misunderstanding.
The Close Election and Recount
The 2000 United States presidential election was one of the closest in U.S. history. On election night, news channels made and then retracted projections about who won the state of Florida. Florida's vote count was very close, leading to a recount.
The recount was eventually stopped by the U.S. Supreme Court on December 12. The Court's decision meant that George W. Bush won Florida by just 537 votes, and with it, the presidency. Gore had won the popular vote nationwide by about 500,000 votes, but lost in the Electoral College. On December 13, 2000, Gore conceded the election. He disagreed with the Court's decision but said he accepted it "for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy."
Life After the White House (2001–Present)
Focus on Climate Change
After his vice presidency, Al Gore became a leading voice in the fight against climate change. He co-founded Generation Investment Management in 2004, a company focused on sustainable investing. He also founded the Alliance for Climate Protection, which created the We Campaign. Gore became a partner in the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, leading its climate change solutions group. He also helped organize the Live Earth benefit concerts to raise awareness about climate change.
In 2007, Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize (jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for his efforts to educate the world about climate change. He starred in the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary. A sequel, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, was released in 2017, showing his continued work.
In 2013, Gore became a vegan. He had previously noted that the growing consumption of meat around the world contributes to the global climate crisis. In 2020, he helped launch Climate TRACE to independently track global greenhouse gas emissions. In November 2021, Gore spoke at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.
Political Involvement and Recognition
After deciding not to run for president in 2004, Gore endorsed Howard Dean and later John Kerry. In the 2008 primaries, Gore remained neutral for a time before endorsing Barack Obama. He also supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries.
In March 2026, Gore was a guest on The Bulwark and was asked about a possible run for president in 2028. He has not ruled out running, stating there is a "real desire for another septuagenarian candidate."
In 2024, President Joe Biden awarded Al Gore the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.
Family Life
Al Gore met Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Aitcheson at his senior prom in 1965. They married at the Washington National Cathedral on May 19, 1970. They have four children: Karenna Gore (born 1973), Kristin Carlson Gore (born 1977), Sarah LaFon Gore (born 1979), and Albert Arnold Gore III (born 1982). In June 2010, the Gores announced that they had made a mutual decision to separate.
Gore is a Baptist. He attended the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tennessee and later the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Virginia. In 2004, he announced he had left the Southern Baptist Convention but remained a Baptist. In 2007, he received an award for his environmental activism from Ethics Daily's "Baptist of the Year."
Awards and Special Recognitions
Gore has received many awards for his work. These include the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 (shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), a Primetime Emmy Award for Current TV in 2007, and a Webby Award in 2005. He also received the Dan David Prize in 2008 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 2007 for International Cooperation. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2008.
His book, An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It, won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2009. In 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Books
- Know Climate Change and 101 Q and A on Climate Change from 'Save Planet Earth Series', 2008 (children's books)
- Putting People First: How We Can All Change America. (with William J. Clinton). New York: Times Books, 1992.
See also
In Spanish: Al Gore para niños
- Environmental activism of Al Gore
- Vice presidency of Al Gore
