Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson Gore ( born August 19 , 1948 ) is an author , photographer , former `` Second Lady of the United States , '' and the wife of Al Gore . She is referred to as `` Tipper . '' Mary Elizabeth Gore ( nÃ e Aitcheson ; born August 19 , 1948 ) , commonly known as Tipper Gore , is an author , photographer , former Second Lady of the United States , and the estranged wife of Al Gore .