Tipper Gore
| Tipper Gore | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 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 | Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson August 19, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Al Gore (1970-present; separated)[1] |
| Children | Karenna, Kristin, Sarah, Albert III |
| Occupation | Author, photographer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Aitcheson; born August 19, 1948) is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the wife of Al Gore, from whom she is currently separated. She became well-known for her role in the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), criticizing music with profane language and promoting Parental Advisory stickers (nicknamed "Tipper Stickers") on record covers, especially in the heavy metal, punk and rap genres.
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Background [edit]
Born Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson in Washington, D.C., Tipper Gore is the daughter of John Kenneth "Jack" Aitcheson, Jr., a plumbing-supply entrepreneur, and his first wife, Margaret Ann (née Carlson) Odom (who lost her first husband during World War II). 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. Her ancestry includes English, Scottish, German, and Swedish.[3][4] Gore grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Her parents divorced and she was raised by her mother and grandmother.
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.[5] 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.[6][7] Gore pursued a master's degree in psychology from George Peabody College, graduating in 1975.[8] 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[9] 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.[10][11] She has four children: Karenna Aitcheson Gore Schiff[12] (born on August 6, 1973), Kristin Carlson Gore[13] (born on June 5, 1977), Sarah LaFon Gore[13] (born on January 7, 1979), and Albert Gore III (born on October 19, 1982).[14] 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.[15]
Gore was targeted by the rock group Warrant on their 1990 album Cherry Pie in the track Ode to Tipper Gore, which was basically a collection of swear words and sexual references, due to her involvement with the Parents Music Resource Center.
Author [edit]
Tipper Gore is the author of a number of books including:
- Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society, 1987, ISBN 0-687-35282-7
- Picture This: A Visual Diary, 1996, ISBN 0-553-06720-6
- From the Bottom of Our Hearts, 2002, ISBN 1-931718-32-6 (introduction)
- Joined at the Heart: The Transformation of the American Family, 2002, ISBN 0-8050-7450-3, (with Al Gore)
- The Spirit of Family, 2002, ISBN 5-550-15167-7 (with Al Gore)
Politics and activism [edit]
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.[16] According to an article by NPR, Gore went "before Congress to urge warning labels for records marketed to children."[17] Tipper explained that her purpose wasn't to put a "gag" on music but, to keep it safe for younger listeners. A number of individuals including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister,[18] Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys,[19] John Denver, Joey Ramone and Frank Zappa[17] 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."[17]
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.[20][21]
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.[22]
Personal life [edit]
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.[23]
In June 2010, the Gores announced their marital separation, "a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration."[24] In August 2012, the New York Times reported that both Gores were dating other people and have no plans to resume marriage, but that their "bond endures" and their relationship is friendly. "The couple reunites a few times a year, most recently in June, for summer family vacations and Christmases in the Gore family seat of Carthage, Tenn," the newspaper reported.[25]
References [edit]
- ^ Schelzig, Erik (06-01-2010). "Al and Tipper Gore to separate after 40 years". Associated Press through Yahoo News. Retrieved 06-01-2010.
- ^ a b c , CNN: Tipper Gore Bio
- ^ William Addams Reitwiesner. "The Ancestors of Tipper Gore". Ancestry of Tipper Gore. William Addams Reitwiesner. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ David Maraniss, Ellen Y. Nakashima, The Prince Of Tennessee: The Rise Of Al Gore, Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, 2000, p. 259.
- ^ "Al Gore, Growing Up in Two Worlds". Washington Post. October 10, 1999. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Next First Lady Will Recast Role - Tipper Gore and Laura Bush
- ^ Photo Gallery: Garland Junior College dance
- ^ ABC News: Tipper Gore In and Out of Public Eye
- ^ Quarante Magazine.
- ^ "Gore Chronology". PBS. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ Howd, Aimee (December 31, 1999). "Wedding photograph". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Marcano, Tony (1997-03-21). "CHRONICLE". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ a b Gore, Al (May 22 2007). The Assault on Reason. New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 1-59420-122-6. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
- ^ "Biography: Gore's road from Tennessee to the White House. She worked as a photographer for newspapers and magazines, including Quarante Magazine (1982 - 1984), published by Kathleen Katz of Arlington, Virginia.". CNN. June 16, 1999. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ AP: Al and Tipper Gore to separate after 40 years
- ^ Miss Cellania (2). "Tipper vs. Music". Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music. The Bathroom Reader Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ a b c Siegel, Robert (2005-01-11). "Tipper Gore and Family Values". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "Dee Snider's Statement on Censorship to the U.S. Senate". VH1. Viacom International Inc. 15. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ Jello Biafra. "Jello Biafra's Statement for Synthesis/Regeneration magazine". Alternative Tentacles. Alternative Tentacles. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ Taste of Polonia
- ^ Copernicus Foundation page on the festival
- ^ Jonathan Karl, Dana Bash (17). "Tipper Gore says no to Senate bid". CNN. Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ Tipper Gore Honors Mental Health Achievements
- ^ Amy Argetsinger, Roxanne Roberts (2010-06-02). "40 more years? Not for Al and Tipper Gore, who've announced their separation". Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (2012-08-25). "The End of the Line". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tipper Gore |
- Tipper Gore Photography
- Official White House homepage (archived)
- Early version of official White House homepage, 1994
- Warm and personable wins points with public - Tipper Gore (1996)
- Biography—Frontline
- Biography
- "Tipper Gore and Family Values"—NPR
- Tipper Gore speaks at the Democratic National Convention, 1996
- The Women Who Made Al Gore
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marilyn 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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- 1948 births
- American Episcopalians
- American people of English descent
- American photographers
- Boston University alumni
- Democrats (United States)
- Gore family
- Living people
- People from Arlington County, Virginia
- Artists from Washington, D.C.
- Second Ladies of the United States
- Spouses of members of the United States House of Representatives
- Spouses of United States Senators
- Vanderbilt University alumni
- Writers from Virginia
- American people of Swedish descent
- American people of German descent
- American people of Scottish descent
