strongly:Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human
Spirit, which focuses on an environmental crisis of
global proportions. Gore claimed that human-
caused changes have resulted in catastrophe for the
earth’s environment, citing the greenhouse effect of
global warming and damage to the ozone as ex-
tremely dangerous to the survival of humans, ani-
mals, and plant life. Still a senator, Gore spent three
years writing the book. In it, he laid out environ-
mental crises and potential solutions. His proposals
included nature preservation, population control,
environmentally friendly technologies, an interna-
tional exchange of solutions and policies, and en-
forceable international agreements aimed at pre-
serving, protecting, and improving planet health.
Earth in the Balancewas published in 1992 and be-
came a best seller, eventually being translated into
more than thirty languages.
Gore also had a tremendous interest in the poten-
tial for global communication achieved through the
use of computer and telephone technologies. He fo-
cused on a means to transfer economic information
on an international basis and was very influential in
popularizing and streamlining use of the Internet.
Once fully mainstreamed, such technology made
possible a merging of individual nation economies
toward a world economy, which some economists
criticized as having a dangerous leveling or flatten-
ing economic effect. In 1991, Congress passed the
High Performance Computing and Communica-
tion Act, which had been introduced years earlier as
the Gore Bill. This bill led to the creation of the “in-
formation superhighway”—an early term for the In-
ternet.
Joining Forces with Bill Clinton Republican presi-
dent George H. W. Bush was up for reelection in
- Gore decided not to seek the Democratic
nomination to oppose Bush. Troubled by memories
of his failed 1988 attempt, and acknowledging his
wife’s resistance to enduring another presidential
campaign, he let slide an opportunity to pursue the
top spot. Arkansas governor Bill Clinton won the
battle to become the Democratic presidential candi-
date for 1992. Gore was asked to be on Clinton’s list
of vice presidential running mates, and he answered
in the affirmative. It was not lost on Gore that the
vice presidency was a position that his father, Albert
Gore, Sr., had coveted but never attained. Clinton
liked Gore’s traits of a solid, broad intellect, rigid
discipline, firm grasp of even obscure policies,
and, perhaps most presciently, his reputation for loy-
alty.
Both Clinton and Gore were from southern
states. Generally, presidential candidates choose a
vice president from a geographic location different
from their own. Clinton, however, felt that Gore
brought so many other positives to the ticket that he
did not worry about regional balance. Gore’s studi-
ousness and reputation for details nicely contrasted
and balanced the perception of Clinton as perhaps a
little too laid-back and impetuous. Gore’s image as a
rock-solid family man and upright citizen also ap-
pealed to Clinton, who faced constant criticism for
questionable morals and dubious personal eco-
nomic investments. The pair won the 1992 election,
and President Clinton made good on his promise
that Gore would be the most influential vice presi-
dent in American history. Clinton gave Gore broad
influence, especially in matters of the environment378 Gore, Al The Nineties in America
Al Gore.(U.S. Department of Defense)