Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Al Gore
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Al Gore made an impact.
Al Gore served as the 45th U.S. Vice President under Bill Clinton (1993-2001). Before that, he represented Tennessee in both the House (1977-1985) and the Senate (1985-1993). He was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2000, losing to George W. Bush in a highly contested election despite winning the popular vote. Beyond his political career, Gore is a businessman and is known as a prominent environmental activist, advocating for climate change awareness and solutions.
1953: Reference to Congressional Seat Succession
In 1953, Joe L. Evins succeeded Albert Gore Sr. for Tennessee's 4th congressional district seat, prior to Evins' retirement in 1976 when Al Gore decided to run for the seat.
1969: ARPANET Deployed
In 1969, the ARPANET (the predecessor of the Internet) was deployed by Leonard Kleinrock and others. Senator Gore would eventually craft the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 after hearing the 1988 report Toward a National Research Network.
1971: Investigative Reporter
In 1971, Al Gore began working the night shift for The Tennessean as an investigative reporter. His investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two councilmen.
February 1976: Announcement of Retirement
At the end of February in 1976, U.S. Representative Joe L. Evins unexpectedly announced his retirement from Congress, prompting Al Gore to run for the House of Representatives.
1976: Run for House Seat
In 1976, Al Gore decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after finding out that his father's former seat was about to be vacated. He did not complete law school.
1976: Won Democratic Primary
In 1976, Al Gore won the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 4th congressional district.
1976: Gore's Early Involvement with Environmental Issues
In 1976, as a freshman congressman, Al Gore held the "first congressional hearings on climate change, and co-sponsored hearings on toxic waste and global warming", indicating his early involvement with environmental issues.
1977: U.S. Representative from Tennessee
In 1977, Al Gore became a U.S. Representative from Tennessee, marking the beginning of his 24 years as an elected official.
1977: Became Member of U.S. House of Representatives
In 1977, Al Gore became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Tennessee.
1977: Served in U.S. House of Representatives
In 1977, Al Gore began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he held until 1985.
1978: Won Re-election
In 1978, Al Gore won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1978: Gore and Gingrich part of a "futures group"
Starting in 1978, Al Gore and Newt Gingrich were both part of a "futures group" in Congress.
March 19, 1979: First Member of Congress on C-SPAN
On March 19, 1979, Al Gore became the first member of Congress to appear on C-SPAN, marking an early instance of his engagement with technology and communication.
1980: Won Re-election
In 1980, Al Gore won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1982: Introduction of the Gore Plan for Arms Control
In 1982, Al Gore introduced the Gore Plan for arms control, aiming to reduce the chances of a nuclear first strike by cutting multiple warheads and deploying single-warhead mobile launchers.
1982: Won Re-election
In 1982, Al Gore won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1983: Promotion of High-Speed Telecommunications
In 1983, Al Gore promoted the idea of high-speed telecommunications as an engine for economic growth and educational improvement. He provided intellectual leadership in creating the vision of the potential benefits of high speed computing and communication.
1984: Elected to U.S. Senate
In 1984, Al Gore successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate, succeeding Howard Baker.
1985: Became U.S. Senator
In 1985, Al Gore became a United States Senator representing Tennessee.
1985: U.S. Senator for Tennessee
In 1985, Al Gore served as a U.S. Senator for the state of Tennessee, continuing his career as an elected official.
1986: Introduction of Supercomputer Network Study Act
In 1986, Al Gore introduced the Supercomputer Network Study Act and sponsored hearings on using advanced technologies to coordinate government responses to natural disasters and other crises.
1987: Civil Rights Restoration Act
In 1987, the Civil Rights Restoration Act was up for vote. Al Gore did not initially vote on the Act in January 1988, but later voted to override President Reagan's veto.
January 1988: Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 Vote
In January 1988, Al Gore initially did not vote on the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. He would later vote to override President Reagan's veto the following March.
1988: Super Tuesday and Campaign Struggles
In 1988, Al Gore faced challenges during Super Tuesday, where the Southern vote was split, and he was later negatively impacted by endorsements and statements made by New York City Mayor Ed Koch. He eventually dropped out of the race.
1988: Presidential Nomination Attempt
In 1988, Al Gore sought the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States but finished third overall, carrying seven states in the primaries. Michael Dukakis eventually won the nomination.
1988: Heard Report Toward a National Research Network
In 1988, Senator Gore heard the report Toward a National Research Network, submitted to Congress by Leonard Kleinrock. This report led him to begin crafting the High Performance Computing Act of 1991.
1990: Global Marshall Plan Conference
In 1990, Al Gore, then a Senator, presided over a three-day conference with legislators from over 42 countries. The aim of the conference was to create a Global Marshall Plan, under which industrial nations would help less developed countries grow economically while also protecting the environment.
August 1991: Decision Not to Run for President in 1992
In August 1991, Al Gore announced that his son's accident was a factor in his decision not to run for president in 1992, citing his responsibilities as a father. During this time, Gore wrote Earth in the Balance.
December 9, 1991: Passage of High Performance Computing Act
On December 9, 1991, the High Performance Computing Act, also known as "The Gore Bill," was passed, leading to the creation of the National Information Infrastructure (NII), which Al Gore referred to as the "information superhighway."
1991: Support for the Gulf War
In 1991, Al Gore was one of ten Democrats who supported the Gulf War.
1991: Gore Votes in Favor of Persian Gulf War Resolution
In 1991, Al Gore, then a United States Senator, was among the Democrats who voted in favor of the resolution endorsing the Persian Gulf War.
July 17, 1992: Nomination at Democratic National Convention
On July 17, 1992, Bill Clinton and Al Gore accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention. Dubbed the Baby Boomer Ticket, they were noted as the youngest team to run for the White House in the country's history, with Gore calling it "a new generation of leadership".
1992: Not running for President
Due to his son's accident, Al Gore decided to not run for president in 1992. Instead, he focused on his family and wrote Earth in the Balance.
1992: Acceptance of Vice Presidential Nomination
In 1992, Al Gore accepted Bill Clinton's offer to be his running mate for the United States presidential election after initially hesitating. Clinton cited Gore's foreign policy experience, environmental work, and commitment to family as reasons for his choice.
1992: Defeat of Incumbents Bush and Quayle
In 1992, Al Gore and Bill Clinton defeated incumbents George H. W. Bush and Dan Quayle.
1992: Gore speaks on the Gulf War
In 1992, Al Gore gave a speech on the Gulf War. Gore stated that he twice attempted to get the U.S. government to pull support to Saddam Hussein, citing Hussein's use of poison gas, support of terrorism, and nuclear program, but was opposed by the Reagan and Bush administrations.
1992: Jackson Supports Clinton-Gore Ticket
In 1992, Jesse Jackson, who had previously competed against Al Gore, supported the Clinton-Gore ticket.
January 20, 1993: Inauguration of Clinton and Gore
On January 20, 1993, Bill Clinton and Al Gore were inaugurated, marking the beginning of their administration. Gore played an unprecedented role as a principal adviser to Clinton, involved in decision-making to a significant degree.
1993: Became Vice President of the United States
In 1993, Al Gore became the 45th Vice President of the United States, serving under President Bill Clinton.
1993: Vice President during Clinton Administration
In 1993, Al Gore began his service as Vice President during the Clinton administration.
1993: End of Senate Service
In 1993, Al Gore concluded his service in the U.S. Senate.
January 11, 1994: Information Technology Plans at UCLA
On January 11, 1994, Al Gore discussed his plans to emphasize information technology at UCLA during a speech at The Superhighway Summit.
March 29, 1994: Georgetown University Symposium Keynote
On March 29, 1994, Al Gore delivered the inaugural keynote at a Georgetown University symposium on governmental reform, discussing how technology was changing government and management.
1994: White House Website Launch
In 1994, the Clinton-Gore administration launched the first official White House website.
1995: Promotion of Information Technology Development
Around 1995, Al Gore promoted the development of information technology, contributing to the dot-com boom. The Clinton administration planned to fund research to stimulate the economy with innovative goods and services.
November 5, 1996: Clinton and Gore re-elected
On November 5, 1996, Bill Clinton and Al Gore were re-elected as president and vice-president with 379 electoral votes and an 8% margin of victory in the popular vote.
1996: Involvement in "Chinagate" campaign finance controversy
In 1996, Al Gore became involved in a "Chinagate" campaign finance controversy due to his attendance at an event at the Buddhist Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation uncovered evidence that Chinese agents sought to direct contributions from foreign sources to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) before the 1996 presidential campaign.
1996: Defeat of Dole and Kemp
In 1996, Al Gore, as Vice President, and Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole and Jack Kemp in the presidential election.
1996: Jackson Supports Clinton-Gore Ticket
In 1996, Jesse Jackson supported the Clinton-Gore ticket.
March 1997: Gore explains phone calls soliciting funds for Democratic Party
In March 1997, Al Gore had to explain phone calls he made to solicit funds for the Democratic Party for the 1996 election. He stated that all calls were charged to the Democratic National Committee and that his counsel advised there was no legal violation.
January 1998: Talk of potential 2000 presidential run
As early as January 1998, there was talk of a potential run in the 2000 presidential race by Al Gore.
1998: FBI agents denied opportunity to question Gore
In 1997 and 1998, FBI agents were denied the opportunity to ask President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore questions during Justice Department interviews regarding the "Chinagate" controversy.
1998: Gore objects to the jailing of Anwar Ibrahim
In 1998, at an APEC conference hosted by Malaysia, Al Gore objected to the indictment, arrest, and jailing of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's second-in-command Anwar Ibrahim.
June 16, 1999: Gore announces candidacy for president
On June 16, 1999, in Carthage, Tennessee, Al Gore formally announced his candidacy for president, focusing on strengthening the American family. The speech was interrupted by AIDS protesters.
March 9, 2000: Bradley withdraws campaign and endorses Gore
On March 9, 2000, after failing to win any of the first 20 primaries and caucuses, Bill Bradley withdrew his campaign and endorsed Al Gore for president.
August 13, 2000: Gore selects Joe Lieberman as running mate
On August 13, 2000, Al Gore announced that he had selected Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut as his vice presidential running mate. Lieberman became the first person of the Jewish faith to run for the nation's second-highest office.
December 13, 2000: Gore Concedes 2000 Election
On December 13, 2000, Al Gore conceded the election to George W. Bush, despite disagreeing with the Supreme Court's decision to halt the Florida recount. In his concession speech, Gore stated that he offered his concession "for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy."
2000: White House Website
Al Gore launched a White House website version in 2000.
2000: Presidential Run
Al Gore's position as a moderate shifted later in life after he ran for president in 2000.
2000: Reference to Chairwoman from 2000 Campaign
Donna Brazile, Gore's campaign chairwoman from his 2000 campaign, speculated that Gore might announce a presidential candidacy during the Oscars ceremony.
2000: Gore in the presidential race
In 2000, Al Gore participated in the presidential race.
2000: Gore-Lieberman Ticket and Policy Changes
In 2000, Jesse Jackson campaigned for the Gore-Lieberman ticket during the presidential election. Gore's policies changed substantially, reflecting his eight years as vice president.
2000: Funds Left Over From 2000
In March 2004, Gore endorsed John Kerry and gave Kerry $6 million in funds left over from his own unsuccessful 2000 bid.
2000: Investigation into Gore's fund-raising controversies
In Spring 2000, Robert Conrad Jr., head of a Justice Department task force, asked Attorney General Janet Reno to appoint an independent counsel to continue the investigation into Al Gore's fund-raising controversies. Reno judged that the appointment was unwarranted.
2000: Loss in 2000 Presidential Election
In the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore, the Democratic nominee, lost to Republican nominee George W. Bush, despite winning the popular vote. The Supreme Court ruling in Bush v. Gore ended the recount process.
2001: Post-Vice Presidency Activities
After his vice presidency ended in 2001, Al Gore became an author, environmental activist, founder and chair of The Climate Reality Project, co-founder and chair of Generation Investment Management and Current TV, a former board member of Apple Inc., a senior advisor to Google, and a partner in Kleiner Perkins. He also became a visiting professor at multiple universities.
2001: Promotion of Information Technology Development
Around 2001, Al Gore continued to promote the development of information technology, contributing to the dot-com boom. The Clinton administration planned to fund research to stimulate the economy with innovative goods and services.
2001: End of Vice Presidency
In 2001, Al Gore's term as Vice President during the Clinton administration came to an end.
December 2002: Gore's Decision Not to Run in 2004
In December 2002, Al Gore made the decision not to challenge Bush in the 2004 presidential election. The September 11 attacks and the subsequent rise in President Bush's popularity were strong factors in Gore's decision.
December 16, 2002: Gore Announces He Will Not Run in 2004
On December 16, 2002, Al Gore announced that he would not be a candidate in the 2004 presidential election.
2002: Gore Criticizes Bush Administration's Rush to War
In 2002, Al Gore began publicly criticizing the Bush administration. In a September 23, 2002 speech before the Commonwealth Club of California, Gore criticized Bush and Congress for their rush to war in Iraq, comparing it to the 1991 Persian Gulf War, in which Gore had voted in favor of the resolution.
December 2003: Gore Endorses Howard Dean for President
In December 2003, Al Gore endorsed Vermont governor Howard Dean for president, weeks before the first primary of the election cycle. This endorsement was criticized by other Democratic contenders.
March 2004: Gore Endorses John Kerry and Provides Campaign Funds
In March 2004, Al Gore endorsed John Kerry for president and gave Kerry $6 million in funds left over from his own unsuccessful 2000 presidential bid. Gore also opened the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
2004: Failed Draft Campaign for Gore in 2004 Election
Despite Al Gore's announcement that he wouldn't run, a handful of supporters launched a national campaign to draft him into running. This movement failed to convince Gore to run in the 2004 election.
2004: Co-launched Generation Investment Management
In 2004, Al Gore co-launched Generation Investment Management, a company where he serves as chair, focusing on sustainable investments.
2004: Gore Accuses Bush of Betrayal Over Iraq War Justification
In 2004, during the presidential election year, Al Gore accused George W. Bush of betraying the country by using the 9/11 attacks as a justification for the invasion of Iraq.
2004: Reference to calamitous early endorsement of Howard Dean
Some argued that Gore waited because he did not want to repeat his calamitous early endorsement of Howard Dean during the 2004 presidential election.
2005: Gore Criticizes Religious Zealots and Bush's Katrina Response
In 2005, Al Gore gave a speech addressing various topics, including what he termed "religious zealots" in American politics. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Gore chartered planes to evacuate 270 people from New Orleans and criticized the Bush administration's handling of the disaster.
2005: Gore Aids Evacuation of Patients from New Orleans Hospital
In September of 2005, Al Gore aided in the evacuation of 270 patients from Charity Hospital in New Orleans to Tennessee, following Hurricane Katrina. Contacted by Dr. David Kline, Gore, through Greg Simon of FasterCures, arranged for two airlines to provide planes for the evacuation with volunteer airline crews and medical staff. Gore used his political influence to expedite landing rights in New Orleans.
2006: Prospect of Gore Candidacy Arises for 2008 Election
Between 2006 and early 2008, speculation arose regarding a potential Gore candidacy for the upcoming 2008 presidential election due to his increased popularity after the release of the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
2006: Gore Criticizes Bush's Wiretapping and Treatment of Arabs
In 2006, Al Gore criticized President Bush's use of domestic wiretaps without a warrant. A month later, in a speech at the Jeddah Economic Forum, Gore criticized the treatment of Arabs in the U.S. after 9/11, stating that there had been "terrible abuses".
2006: Starred in An Inconvenient Truth
In 2006, Al Gore starred in the documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth", which addresses climate change. The film went on to win an Academy Award in 2007.
2007: Gore Publishes "The Assault on Reason"
In 2007, Al Gore published his book, "The Assault on Reason," which analyzes the decline of meaningful civic discourse during the Bush administration, attributing it to the influence of television, while arguing that the Internet could revitalize democracy.
2007: Received Baptist of the Year Award
In 2007, Al Gore received Ethics Daily's "Baptist of the Year" award for his environmental activism.
2007: Nobel Peace Prize
In 2007, Al Gore, jointly with the IPCC, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in climate change activism.
June 3, 2008: Obama Becomes Presumptive Democratic Nominee
On June 3, 2008, when Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, speculation began that Al Gore might be tapped for the vice presidency.
December 9, 2008: Obama, Gore, and Biden Meet in Chicago
On December 9, 2008, a meeting was held between Barack Obama, Al Gore, and Joe Biden in Chicago, enhancing speculation that Gore would be named a member of the Obama administration. Democratic officials stated the meeting was only about the climate crisis, and Gore would not be joining the administration.
December 19, 2008: Gore Praises Obama's Environmental Administrative Choices
On December 19, 2008, Al Gore described Barack Obama's environmental administrative choices of Carol Browner, Steven Chu, and Lisa Jackson as "an exceptional team to lead the fight against the climate crisis".
2008: Gore Addresses Presidential Run Speculation at Academy Awards
During the 79th Academy Awards ceremony in 2008, Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio shared the stage to speak about the "greening" of the event. Gore began a speech that seemed to lead to a presidential candidacy announcement, but background music drowned him out, implying it was a gag. He later acknowledged that to be the case.
2008: Gore Argues Against Ban of Same-Sex Marriage
In 2008, Al Gore argued against the ban of same-sex marriage on his Current TV website, advocating for equal rights for gay men and women, including the right to make contracts, have hospital visiting rights, and marry.
August 2009: Clinton and Gore Reunite for Media
In August 2009, Bill Clinton and Al Gore, who had maintained a public distance for eight years, reunited for the media. Clinton had arranged the release of two female journalists held hostage in North Korea, who were employees of Gore's Current TV.
2009: Gore Comments on Cheney's Criticism of Obama Administration
In 2009, Al Gore commented on former Vice President Dick Cheney's criticism of the Obama administration during an interview with CNN. Gore referenced his own past criticism of the Bush administration, noting that he waited two years after leaving office to make critical statements.
2009: An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It won a Grammy
In 2009, Al Gore's 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.
![An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It [Japanese Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ux84+idKL._SL500_.jpg "An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It [Japanese Edition]")
2010: Attended WE Day in Vancouver, Canada
In 2010, Al Gore attended WE Day in Vancouver, Canada, which is a WE Charity event focused on empowering young people to create change.
2013: Became a Vegan
In 2013, Al Gore adopted a vegan diet. He had previously acknowledged the impact of meat consumption on the global climate crisis. He cited that his diet change was motivated by environmental concerns and personal health.
2014: Continued vegan diet for health and environmental reasons
In 2014, Al Gore confirmed in an interview that he had maintained a vegan diet for over a year, citing improvements in his health and his commitment to environmentalism as reasons for continuing the diet.
2014: Speculation on Gore running for president in 2016 arises
In 2014, interest arose in having Al Gore run for the 2016 presidential election, even though he did not declare any intention to do so.
2015: Continued Speculation for Gore 2016 Candidacy
In 2015, interest continued to arise in having Al Gore run for the 2016 presidential election, although he did not declare any intention to do so.
July 25, 2016: Gore Endorses Hillary Clinton
On July 25, 2016, Al Gore endorsed Hillary Clinton, the first day of that year's Democratic National Convention, ending his neutrality during the Democratic presidential primaries of 2016.
October 11, 2016: Gore Appears with Clinton at Rally
On October 11, 2016, Al Gore appeared with Hillary Clinton at a rally on Miami Dade College's Kendall Campus.
2016: Speculation Arises for Gore 2016 Candidacy
Interest in having Al Gore run for the 2016 presidential election arose, although he did not declare any intention to do so.
January 2017: Revived Climate and Health Summit
In late January 2017, Al Gore revived the "Climate and Health Summit" through the Climate Reality Project after it was unexpectedly cancelled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2017: An Inconvenient Sequel Premiered
In 2017, Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power", a sequel to his 2006 film, "An Inconvenient Truth", premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, documenting his continued efforts to combat climate change.
May 2018: Gore Joins Indian Government Committee
In May 2018, Al Gore was included as a member of the Indian Government committee to coordinate year-long celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, commencing October 2, 2019.
October 2, 2019: Gore participates in Gandhi Anniversary Celebrations
From October 2, 2019, Al Gore participated in year-long celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary as part of the Indian Government committee.
2020: Launched Climate TRACE
In 2020, Al Gore helped launch Climate TRACE, an independent organization dedicated to monitoring global greenhouse gas emissions.
November 2021: Spoke at COP26
In November 2021, Al Gore spoke at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, advocating for stronger climate action.
2023: Unique Vice-Presidential Debate
As of 2023, the vice-presidential debate that included Al Gore against Vice President Dan Quayle and Admiral James Stockdale remains the only televised Vice-Presidential debate with more than two participating candidates.
Mentioned in this timeline
California is the most populous US state located on the...
Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in...
George W Bush served as the rd President of the...
The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
Washington D C the capital of the United States is...
CNN Cable News Network is a multinational news organization founded...
Trending
57 minutes ago Pali High Grads Celebrate Graduation at Hollywood Bowl After Wildfire Devastation
58 minutes ago LG Twins struggle, Oh Ji-hwan's batting pace is crucial for team success.
2 hours ago Young NBA star reignites Dennis Rodman's legacy; Worthy defends Rodman comparison.
2 hours ago Roark Capital Acquires Dave's Hot Chicken for $1 Billion, Plans Rapid Expansion
2 hours ago Derrick Lewis Admits to Cheating in UFC Fights, Faces No Consequences
2 hours ago Jon Jones Hints at Vacating UFC Heavyweight Title Amidst Aspinall Fight Delay
Popular
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Elon Musk is a prominent businessman best known for leading...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...
Anthony Stephen Fauci is a prominent American physician-scientist and immunologist...