Featured Democratic Speakers
Vice President Al Gore
Vice President Al Gore had to make the speech of his life at the Democratic National Convention as he accepted the party's nomination for president. "I may not always be the most exciting politician, but I will work for you every day and I will not let you down." He told the story of his life -- from his service in Vietnam, to his fight to protect the environment and his efforts for campaign finance and welfare reform. "I will fight for you," said Gore. "At a time when most Americans will live to know even
their great-grandchildren, we will save and strengthen Social Security
and Medicare,
not only for this generation but for generations to come." Listen to the entire speech or read the text.
The Democratic presidential hopeful, grew up both in Washington, D.C., and on a farm in Tennessee. Before first running for office in 1976, Gore worked as reporter for The Tennessean in Nashville. Later he enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War and served as a combat journalist. In 1976, he was elected to the House of Representatives.
While in the House, Gore built a reputation as an expert in both arms control and environmental issues, concerns that he took along with him to the Senate in 1985. Son of a famous senator, Gore watched his father lose re-election partly because of his increasingly strong opposition to the Vietnam War and partly because he refused to "fight back" against attacks by his opponents. In a long profile of the vice president, the Washington Post suggests that his father's defeat convinced the younger Gore to be tougher in his own campaigns.
In 1970, before leaving for Vietnam, Gore married Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson (Tipper), a photographer and drummer. Together they've raised three daughters and a son, and a year ago added a grandson to the family.
Additional stories on this speaker:
Meet Al Gore ( 14.4 | 28.8) -- From his childhood in Carthage, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., Al Gore was raised not just to be a politician but to be a Democratic presidential candidate. Next week in Los Angeles, Al Gore will take the penultimate step toward fulfilling his lifelong goal. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports. (8:45)
Gore's Hill Record ( 14.4 | 28.8) -- Linda talks with congressional statistician Bruce Oppenheimer about Al Gore's congressional voting record. Dr. Oppenheimer is a professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His latest book is called Sizing Up the Senate; University of Chicago Press, October 1999. (3:15)
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