Al and Tipper kiss each other goodbye after 40 years of marriage

(Politco) WASHINGTON - Al and Tipper Gore, whose playful romance enlivened Washington and the campaign trail for a quarter century, have decided to separate after 40 years of marriage, the couple told friends Tuesday.

In an "Email from Al and Tipper Gore," the couple said: "We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought and discussion, we have decided to separate.

"This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further."

The e-mail was obtained by POLITICO and confirmed by Kalee Kreider of the office of Al and Tipper Gore. Kreider said there would be no further comment.

Tipper Gore is a professional photographer who in 1996 published "Picture This, A Visual Diary," which she called "a personal photographic representation of life as wife of the vice president."

She often took pictures at campaign events and behind the scenes when her husband ran for president in 2000. In recent years, she often accompanied him on speaking and book-signing engagements as he continued his quest for action on "the climate crisis."

During Bill Clinton's presidency, the then-vice president and his wife donned costumes for an annual Halloween party that became a Washington tradition.

The Gores, who have four children and live in Tennessee, marked their 40th wedding anniversary two weeks ago.

The Gores both grew up in the Washington area. They met at a high-school graduation dance and were married at the National Cathedral on May 19, 1970, according to Tipper Gore's White House biography.