Tipper Gore is the wife of Vice President Al Gore. She is a well-known advocate for families, women and children and an active proponent of healthy living and healthy lives. Her work has focused on issues such as mental health, children's health, education, homelessness and physical fitness. Her health focus has encompassed a variety of issues, including mental illness, AIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, lead poisoning, and youth physical fitness. She has worked to promote education, awareness and prevention of risky behaviors in youth and adolescents and has spoken out about the need to destigmatize mental and physical disabilities.

She was born on August 19, 1948 as Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson. She was nicknamed Tipper by her mother, a name derived from one of her favorite nursery rhymes. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia, in the home her family still owns. She attended St. Agnes and, at a high school graduation dance met Al Gore, Jr. They were married on May 19, 1970 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

That same year, Tipper received her B.A. degree in Psychology from Boston University and in 1975, received a Master's Degree in Psychology from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. She became an avid photographer and worked parttime at the Nashville Tennessean until her husband was elected to Congress in 1976.
As a Congressional spouse, she helped form the Congressional Wives Task Force, serving as Chair in 1978 and 1979. The task force sought to draw attention to the violence that children are exposed to through the media. She subsequently co-founded the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC) in 1985, along with Susan Baker, to promote parental and consumer awareness of issues in popular entertainment marketed to children. Ultimately, the PMRC was successful in gaining a voluntary agreement between the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Parent Teacher Association to place consumer labels on music with violent or explicit lyrics. Those warning labels are still in use today and have served as a model for labeling efforts for television and other media.

In 1987, she authored her first book, Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society, which detailed her efforts to seek responsibility from the entertainment industry. In 1996, she published her second book, Picture This, A Visual Diary, which is a personal photographic representation of life as wife of the Vice President. Proceeds from the book were donated to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

A major advocate for the homeless, she co-founded and chaired Families for the Homeless in 1986, a non-partisan partnership of families that raises public awareness of homeless issues. She forged a partnership with the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) to produce a major photographic exhibit entitled "Homeless in America: A Photographic Project," which toured the nation. She is currently working on a 10-year retrospective of the exhibit. She also serves as Co-Chair of "America Goes Back To School," an initiative launched by the Department of Education to work with students, parents and teachers to promote a better learning environment among our nation's children.

Also an advocate for women, children and families on many health issues, she serves as National Spokesperson for the Back To Sleep campaign, a project of the Department of Health and Human Services and American Academy of Pediatrics which advocates back sleeping for infants to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She is also a spokesperson for "Take the Lead Against Lead" which is a national education campaign to warn parents and homeowners of the hazards of lead poisoning.

Her long-standing interest in mental health issues have brought her to the forefront of this issue. As Mental Health Policy Advisor to President Clinton, Tipper Gore is committed to eradicating the stigma associated with mental illness. She has worked tirelessly to educate Americans about the need for quality, affordable mental health care. Regarded by many as one of the most visible advocates for mental health care services nationwide, she has served as a vocal proponent for the parity of mental health benefits with those of health benefits under medical insurance plans. She has also worked closely with the Administration to ensure the inclusion of mental health services in health care policy, such as the Children's Health Initiative.
Prior to the Clinton/Gore Administration taking office, she worked with a variety of mental health advocacy groups. In 1990, she founded Tennessee Voices for Children, a coalition to promote the development of services for children and youth with serious behavioral, emotional, substance abuse, or other mental health problems. She also served as co-chair of the Child Mental Health Interest Group, a non-partisan group of Congressional and Administration spouses.

An avid sports enthusiast, Tipper Gore recently became Chair of the National Youth Fitness Campaign of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Her goal is to work with the Council to promote youth physical fitness and educate Americans, particularly young girls, about the positive physical and mental benefits to fitness and physical activity.

With her husband and four children, Karenna (born August 6, 1973), Kristin (June 5, 1977), Sarah (January 7, 1979) and Albert III (October 19, 1982), Tipper Gore likes to jog, bike, hike, ski and rollerblade.