The Vice President Al Gore made headlines when he hugged his wife Tipper tightly and kissed her for three whole seconds — which felt like forever — at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17, 2000. Back then, TIME wrote, “The sheer carnality of the kiss — the can’t-wait-to-get-back-to-the-hotel-room urgency, the sexual electricity flowing south — was riveting.” Political commenters called the kiss both a calculated attempt to humanize Gore and a statement of monogamy intended to show that he was his own man and not like his boss, Bill Clinton, who had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Gore did not win the 2000 presidential election, however, and the couple separated a decade later.
17 Memorable Kisses Throughout History
Smooches to remember in time for Valentine's Day
Al and Tipper Gore Kiss
Full List
Kisses
- Auguste Rodin’s The Kiss
- Thomas Edison’s The Kiss
- Hershey’s Kisses
- V-J Day in Times Square Kiss
- The Kiss of Death
- KISS
- World Leaders Kiss
- Al and Tipper Gore Kiss
- Ray Bourque’s Stanley Cup Kiss
- Britney and Madonna Kiss
- Post-Stanley Cup Riots Kiss
- World Leaders Don’t Kiss
- The Obamas on The Kiss Cam
- The Fastest Runner Kiss
- The Longest Kiss
- TIME Covers of Same-Sex Couples Kisses:
- Speed Skaters Kiss