In October of 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris is learning that it is very difficult to run for the presidency as a sitting vice president. Richard Nixon discovered this in 1960, as did Hubert Humphrey in 1968. In 1988 George Bush became the first Veep elected since Martin Van Buren in 1836. Al Gore was in the same situation in 2000.

For two centuries, there was usually a geographic and/or age balance between the president and vice president. In the early 1800’s this was often between Virginia and New York. In 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defied tradition when he selected a running mate from a neighboring state less than two years younger. The Clinton’s and Gore’s were young (for a presidential campaign) and vibrant couples on the campaigning trail

The nineties are remembered politically for the strong national economy. During the second term of Clinton/Gore, there were four straight years of surpluses, the largest in history. The economy grew every quarter of their administration. The country was at peace, with minor involvement in Haiti and Yugoslavia. Vice-President Gore was in the words of legendary baseball announcer Red Barber, “in the catbird seat.”

Gore sought the Democratic nomination in 1988, and the forty-year-old Tennessee senator placed third. He sat out 1992, as many contenders did considering President Bush’s poll numbers. Whenever someone says they want to spend more time with their families I see the words “BS.” He faced a strategic dilemma in 2000- should he run on the Clinton record? There was the presidency and there was the personal life. Clinton had lied to his wife, vice president, and the country.

Gore was not able to set up a unified campaign team. His staff, hired political consultants, and the Clinton people could not find the same page. Gore wanted to make more decisions than a candidate should, those choices must be delegated. He also had three campaign chiefs, so no cohesive strategy could be maintained. During the three presidential debates, a different Gore showed up each time. In the first, he was aggressive, too laid back in the second, and hyper again in the third- the time he walked over near Bush’s lectern looking foolish.

Most people remember in that election it took over a month to declare a winner. Once the outcome was decided, Clinton and Gore had a contentious Oval Office meeting with raised voices. Gore blamed the president for his sex scandal. Clinton responded with Gore’s strategy to run away from their success.

Lately, presidential historian Allan Lichtman and his Thirteen Keys to the White House have received much attention as he has picked the winner of nine of the last ten presidential elections since 1984. The only one he was wrong was 2000, and perhaps we can grant Dr. Lichtman an asterisk in the contested election.

Gore eventually sarcastically introduced himself, saying, “Hi, I’m Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States.” ‘Clinton fatigue’ may have hurt him, as it possibly did with Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2008 and 2016.

Ironically, Al and Tipper Gore separated in 2010. They have not divorced and are involved with other people. He would win a Nobel Peace Prize for his environmental efforts in 2007.