| Tipper Gore | |
|---|---|
| Second Lady of the United States | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Marilyn Tucker Quayle |
| Succeeded by | Lynne Cheney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 19, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Al Gore (1970-2010) (Separated)[1] |
| Relations | John Kenneth Aitcheson and Margaret Odom |
| Children | Karenna, Kristin, Sarah, Albert III |
| Occupation | Author, photographer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (born August 19, 1948), née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore. She is also well known for her active role in the Parents Music Resource Center and voicing strong opinions for the labeling of record covers of releases featuring profane language, especially in the heavy metal and rap genres.
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Born Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson in Washington, D.C., Tipper Gore is the daughter of John "Jack" Kenneth Aitcheson Jr., a plumbing-supply entrepreneur, and his first wife, Margaret Ann Carlson Odom (who lost her first husband during World War II). Gore has English ancestry and grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Her parents divorced and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. Her nickname, Tipper, derives from the lullaby "Tippy, Tippy, Tin",[2] originally sung in the 1940 Our Gang short "All About Hash" by child actress Janet Burston.
She attended St. Agnes (now St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School), a private Episcopal school in Alexandria, Virginia, where she excelled in athletics and played the drums for an all-girl band, The Wildcats.[2]
She met Gore at his senior prom in 1965. Although she came to the prom with one of his classmates, Gore and Tipper began to date immediately afterwards.[3] When Gore began attending Harvard University, she enrolled in Garland Junior College (now part of Simmons College) and later transferred to Boston University, receiving her B.A. in psychology in 1970.[4][5] Gore pursued a master's degree in psychology from George Peabody College, graduating in 1975.[6] She then worked part-time as a newspaper photographer until her husband was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1976. In 1982, she resumed her photography career, working part-time for[7]Quarante Magazine (1982–1985) published by Kathleen Katz of Arlington.[2]
On May 19, 1970, she and Gore were married at the Washington National Cathedral.[8][9] She has four children: Karenna Aitcheson Gore Schiff[10] (born on August 6, 1973), Kristin Carlson Gore[11] (born on June 5, 1977), Sarah LaFon Gore[11] (born on January 7, 1979), and Albert Gore III (born on October 19, 1982).[12] A longtime family friend of Al and Tipper Gore confirmed on June 1, 2010, that the Gores had sent out an e-mail to family friends announcing that they had made a mutual decision to separate.[13]
Tipper Gore is the author of a number of books including:
In 1985, she co-founded the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) with Susan Baker, wife of then United States Secretary of the Treasury James Baker, because Tipper heard her then 11-year-old daughter playing "Darling Nikki" by Prince. According to an article by NPR, Gore went "before Congress to urge warning labels for records marketed to children."[14] A number of individuals including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister,[15] Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, John Denver,[16] Joey Ramone and Frank Zappa[14] criticized the group, arguing that it was a form of censorship. In response, NPR further stated that according to Gore, she "wasn't out to censor the objectionable material" and quoted her as stating that she is "a strong believer in the First Amendment" who is calling for greater "consumer information in the marketplace."[14] Gore resigned from the group in 1992 when she became Second Lady.[16]
She was actively involved in her husband's presidential campaign in 2000, making numerous campaign stops nationwide such as at Chicago's Taste of Polonia over Labor Day Weekend where she appeared along with Hadassah Lieberman.[17][18]
In 2002, Tipper was urged by her supporters to run for the vacant U.S. Senate seat her husband once held in Tennessee, which was being vacated by Fred Thompson. However, she declined.[19]
In 2003, Gore spoke at the "Erasing the Stigma Awards" about her experience with depression after her son, Al Gore III, was hit by a car when he was a young child.[20]
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marilyn Tucker Quayle |
Second Lady of the United States 1993-2001 |
Succeeded by Lynne Cheney |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Al Gore Former Vice President |
Order of precedence in the United States of America | Succeeded by Dick Cheney Former Vice President |
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