Gores Announce Separation After 40 Years of Marriage (Update3)
(Adds Tipper Gore’s concerns about music lyrics, work on mental illness issues in ninth paragraph, couple’s purchase of California home in 10th.)
By Edwin Chen
June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, announced today they are separating after 40 years of marriage.
The couple, who have four children, disclosed the news to a small circle of friends in an e-mail sent under both their names, according to Kalee Kreider, a Gore spokeswoman.
“We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought we have decided to separate,” the Gores wrote. “This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together, following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further.”
Al Gore, 62, was vice president in Bill Clinton’s administration and sought the presidency in 2000. He lost to Republican George W. Bush in a disputed election in which Gore won the popular vote and Bush won the Electoral College.
After the election Gore focused his energies on raising public awareness of threats posed by climate change, and he was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
Convention Kiss
The couple met while each was in high school in the Washington area and married on May 19, 1970. They exchanged a much-publicized kiss on stage at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles where Gore was nominated for the presidency.
Tipper Gore, 61, was urged by some Democrats to run for the U.S. Senate in 2002 from the couple’s home state of Tennessee. She decided to forego the race.
Al Gore had represented Tennessee in the U.S. House, first winning his seat in 1976, and then was elected senator in 1984. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988; Clinton selected him as his running mate four years later.
Tipper Gore gained national attention in the mid-1980s for the concerns she expressed about violent or sexually explicit music lyrics. She was a co-founder of the Parents Music Resource Center, which advocated warning labels on music. In recent years, much of her work has involved mental illness prevention and treatment.
The Los Angeles Times reported in April that the couple had purchased a five-bedroom home near Santa Barbara, California, for more than $8.8 million
--Editors: Don Frederick, Robin Meszoly
To contact the reporter on this story: Edwin Chen in Washington at EChen32@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net
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Former  Al Gore announced earlier today that he would separate from , his wife of 40 years. The Gores called the decision "mutual."

In an  to close friends, Al and Tipper Gore said that they would not make additional comments. The message was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Gore family. A family friend said, "There isn't anyone else. They just want to go their separate ways."

In the e-mail, Al and Tipper Gore said:


“We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought we have decided to separate. This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together, following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further.”


The announcement was met with surprise in Washington, D.C. Both were raised around the city, and met at a high school dance. 62-year-old Al Gore was the Vice President of the United States during the  and lost the  to George W. Bush. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts concerning climate change. 61-year-old Tipper Gore is a professional photographer and co-founded the . On May 19, the couple observed their 40th wedding anniversary. The Gores have four children.