Share

Tipper Gore biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

Best Known For

Photographer and activist Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, co-founded the Parents' Music Resource Center, and was Clinton’s mental health advisor.


Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Synopsis

Tipper Gore was born on August 19, 1948, in Arlington, Virginia. In 1980, when her husband was elected Tennessee senator, she took up political causes. In 1985, she co-founded the Parents' Music Resource Center. In 1992, when her husband became vice president, Clinton appointed her his mental health advisor. Following her husband's loss in the 2000 elections, she became absent from the public arena.

Early Life and Education

Political activist, photographer and former spouse of Vice President Al Gore, Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson was born on August 19, 1948, in Arlington, Virginia. Nicknamed Tipper by her mother, she grew up inside the beltway and met her future husband, Al Gore, at a high school graduation dance. In 1970, they were married at Washington's National Cathedral, and in the same year she received a degree in psychology from Boston University.

After receiving her masters she became an avid photographer and worked in Nashville for the Tennessean until her husband was elected to Congress as a Democratic representative in 1976. In 1980, Al Gore was elected to Congress as a Tennessee senator, and Tipper took up political causes in her new capacity as a successful politician's wife.

Parents' Music Resource Center

In 1985, she co-founded the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC) to promote parental and consumer awareness of questionable content in some popular entertainment marketed to children. The PRMC was very successful in its aims, and was responsible for the adoption of consumer warning labels on musical recordings with violent or explicit lyrics. She also advocated greater public awareness of health problems such as AIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and for issues such as mental health.

Political Presence

In 1992, her husband was elected vice president to Bill Clinton, and she continued her political activism in this new role. President Clinton, who incidentally shares the same birthday, appointed her as his official and mental health advisor.

Following her husband's loss in the 2000 presidential elections, the Gore's became conspicuously absent from the public arena. In March of 2002, rumors abounded that Tipper was considering a run for the Senate seat held by Republican Fred Thompson. However, Tipper eventually decided not to make a bid for the slot once held by husband, Al.

Personal Life

Although Tipper and Al Gore have not officially divorced, as of 2010 they candidly announced that they were separating after 40 years of marriage and since then they have both been dating outside of their marriage. Following the separation, Tipper has been romantically linked to Bill Allen, the former editor-in-chief of National Geographic.

Tipper has also published several collections of her photography, and the proceeds of these books went to charity. The Gores have four children: Karenna, born in 1973, Kristin, born in 1977, Sarah, born in 1979, and Albert III, born in 1982.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISEMENT
9542648 9542648
profile id: 9542648
profile name: Tipper Gore
profile occupation:
related profile id: 9542648
related profile name: Tipper Gore
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/G/Tipper-Gore-9542648-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/tipper-gore-9542648
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
    • Girl Scouts

      Did you know that since 1912, nearly 50 million girls in the United States have joined the Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts helped an amazingly diverse array of famous women develop a strong foundation of courage, confidence and character. It's no surprise then that quite a few famous women spent time in the sash. Celebrities who got their start selling cookies and earning merit badges include Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter and actress/writer Carrie Fisher; former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan; Olympic skaters Bonnie Blair and Peggy Fleming; astronaut Sally Ride; and iconic women's rights activist Gloria Steinem. Browse our collection of inspiring famous Girl Scouts who have certainly earned merit badges in their fields.

      View group

      Girl Scouts 45 people in this group

    • Celebrity Deadheads

      Since becoming a staple of the psychedelic movement of the 1960s, the Grateful Dead have achieved a powerful and continually growing fan base, which includes many popular celebrities. Examine our collection of Celebrity Deadheads, which includes Bill Clinton, Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Keith Haring and President Barack Obama. These popular celebs have long been drawn to the powerful and long-standing music of the Grateful Dead.

      View group

      Celebrity Deadheads 14 people in this group

    • Famous Leos 514 people in this group

    See all related groups


    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!