First published 2000
David Maraniss turns his investigative lens on Al Gore during the height of his political power as Vice President. The acclaimed biographer explores the influences that molded Gore from his Tennessee roots through his ascent to the second highest office in America. Maraniss traces the experiences that formed Gore's environmental convictions and political philosophy. He examines the personal relationships and pivotal moments that drove Gore's ambitions. The author reveals how family legacy, educational privilege, and early exposure to Washington politics shaped the man who would become Clinton's running mate. Maraniss strips away the public persona to expose the private motivations and internal conflicts that defined Gore's character. This portrait captures a politician at the crossroads between his past achievements and future aspirations.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, political-science, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, political-ambition
Setting: Tennessee
Period: Vice Presidency
320 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster