Al and Tipper Gore separate

After 40 years of marriage, the former vice president and his wife make a bombshell announcement

Published June 1, 2010 4:40PM (EDT)

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore (R) and his wife Tipper arrive to attend the Nobel Banquet at the Grand Hotel in Oslo December 10, 2007.  .

REUTERS/Sara Johannessen/Scanpix  (NORWAY)    NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL USE (© Scanpix Norway / Reuters)
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore (R) and his wife Tipper arrive to attend the Nobel Banquet at the Grand Hotel in Oslo December 10, 2007. . REUTERS/Sara Johannessen/Scanpix (NORWAY) NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL USE (© Scanpix Norway / Reuters)

After 40 years of marriage, Al and Tipper Gore are separating. They announced the "mutual and mutually supportive decision" in an email to friends today.

The couple met in high school, and they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary just two weeks ago, according to Politico.

The Gores gave no reason for their separation. Tipper, a photographer, is still best known for her role in the founding of the Parents Music Resource Center, sparking a weird '80s crusade against naughty song lyrics, after she caught Karenna Gore listening to Prince. Al is best known for winning the 2000 presidential election but not getting to be president for some reason.

Get ready for a flood of jokes about the time they kissed in public, ten years ago.


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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