Albert Arnold Gore Jr., commonly known as Al Gore, is an American politician, environmentalist, businessman, venture capitalist, and Nobel laureate who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Born on March 31, 1948, in Washington, D.C., to Senator Albert Gore Sr. and Pauline Gore, he was raised in Carthage, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. A Democrat, Gore began his political career after graduating from Harvard University in 1969 with a degree in government. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam as a military reporter from 1969 to 1971. Following his service, Gore worked as a reporter for The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville while briefly attending Vanderbilt Divinity School from 1971 to 1972 to explore spiritual issues. He entered politics in 1976, winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee's 5th district, serving from 1977 to 1985, and then to the U.S. Senate from 1985 to 1993. In 2000, Gore was the Democratic nominee for President, securing the popular vote but losing to George W. Bush in a disputed election resolved by the Supreme Court. Post-vice presidency, Gore emerged as a leading environmental advocate and prominent voice on climate change, known for his role in the Kyoto Protocol negotiations and for pushing climate policies that have faced opposition from groups such as those funded by the Koch family. He is the founder of the Climate Reality Project. He authored the bestselling book 'An Inconvenient Truth' in 2006 and produced the Oscar-winning documentary adaptation. For his environmental advocacy, he shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Gore has also pursued business interests as a financier and board member for companies in technology and media, including serving on Apple's Board since 2003 and co-founding Generation Investment Management to promote sustainable investing. Throughout his career, Gore has been recognized for his work in telecommunications policy during his congressional tenure and his efforts to bridge technology and environmental issues. His influence extends to global climate initiatives, though he has faced criticism for his personal carbon footprint, business ties to fossil fuel-related investments in the past, and opposition from Koch-funded groups.