Al Gore was married to his childhood sweetheart Tipper Aitcheson and together they had four children. Their children are Karenna Gore, Kristin Gore, Sarah Gore and Albert Gore III.

Al and Tipper at Garland Junior College dance
Image from: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/06/al_and_tipper_gore_separating.html

Al and Tipper at their wedding together with Albert Gore and Pauline Gore. Image from: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/06/al_and_tipper_gore_separating.html

A car hit their youngest child and only son Al Gore III when he was 6 years old in 1989. It was unsure then if he would make it but after spending a long time recovering at the hospital he did. Al Gore was mentioned to always being at the hospital during that period of time and he did not leave his wife to face it alone.

It was during this period of time, where he spent hours by his son’s side at the hospital that made him reflect. Rebecca Stefoff mentioned in her book titled “Al Gore: Fighting for a Greener Planet” that Al Gore used this time to think about the things that matter to him.

“Gore spent hours at the boy’s bedside. Sometimes, while Albert slept, Gore thought about what he had achieved during his life. He also thought about what he still hoped to accomplish. He thought about his four children and all the other children in the world. What kind of future would they have? Would Earth be a safe, comfortable home for them when they grew up?”—Rebecca Stefoff

His son’s accident cause Al Gore to ponder and reflect deeply about his life goals and also the state of the Earth and the legacy and inheritance he would like to leave behind for not just his children but the world. It made him realise the necessity of this journey in combating the problem of global warming such that it had made the importance of politics seem so small.

Al and Tipper with their four children. (L-R) Karenna, Sarah, Albert and Kristin. Image from: http://clinton1.nara.gov/White_House/EOP/OVP/html/Bio.html