[Harris:] Let's get more on our breaking news story. Al Gore and Tipper Gore have announced their separation. For more now we go to CNN's senior political analyst Gloria Borger. And, Gloria, boy, first of all, good to see you. Were there even rumors that there was trouble in this marriage?
[Gloria Borger, Cnn Senior Political Analyst:] No, not that I know of. And I've spoken with somebody close to the Gores who did receive this e-mail, who says that they've asked for their privacy. That clearly this has been something they have been talking about for quite some time. And it's kind of, you know, for those of us who have watched political couples over the years, it's kind of sad because the Gores were this fabulous couple to watch when he was running for president. Remember at the Democratic Convention, when he gave her that big kiss.
[Harris:] Oh, yes. Yes.
[Borger:] And we talked about it for years and years after that as sort of the one there it is
[Harris:] There it is.
[Borger:] The one emotional moment we recall from Al Gore. A couple that's always been quite supportive of each other and of their families. So it's one of those things that people are scratching their heads about, but it's very clear that the Gores have given this a great deal of thought.
[Harris:] Yes. I'm just getting world that this is a couple that's been together for, as a married couple for 40 years.
[Borger:] Forty years, right.
[Harris:] Forty years.
[Borger:] Forty years.
[Harris:] And they were definitely a power couple and certainly an issues as couple.
[Borger:] And
[Harris:] What were you going to say, Gloria?
[Borger:] Well, I was also going to say, you know, it's interesting, if you think back to the whole Monica Lewinsky saga, internally at the White House, the Gores were kind of the strong couple and the Clintons were the couple having all the problems.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Borger:] And I think that that created a lot of friction between the president and the vice president. And so it's very surprising to people that and sad, as I said, to their friends that this is happening right now.
[Harris:] You know, I remember Tipper Gore talking about the two of them being an issues couple. I remember pretty vividly Tipper Gore fighting for families and decency. You remember those days?
[Borger:] Sure. Yes.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Borger:] She came out against all the lyrics,
[Harris:] Yes. Yes.
[Borger:] Yes. And she's always been you know, she's somebody who's documented the life of the second lady and the life of the vice president. She's in a book. She's a photographer. She's always, you know, she's always managed to have a separate life. They're quite an informal couple. They used to have open the vice president's house for Halloween parties, which were pretty famous in Washington because they used to get dressed up in these kind of lavish costumes. So family was always a very big thing to them, which is why I think their friends are trying to give them a little bit of distance here and a little bit of quiet to deal with this.
[Harris:] Right. And let's make the point, at least the reporting right now indicates that this is a separation.
[Borger:] Yes.
[Harris:] Separations don't necessarily end in divorce.
[Borger:] That's right.
[Harris:] So we'll wait and see what happens here. Gloria, good to see you. Thank you.
[Borger:] Good to see you, Tony.
[Harris:] Let's take a break. We're back in a moment.