Apple today announced that Albert Gore Jr., the former Vice President of the United States, has joined the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Gore was elected at Apple’s board meeting today.
“Al brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Apple from having helped run the largest organization in the world — the United States government — as a Congressman, Senator and our 45th Vice President. Al is also an avid Mac user and does his own video editing in Final Cut Pro,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Al is going to be a terrific Director and we’re excited and honored that he has chosen Apple as his first private sector board to serve on.”
“Steve and his team have done an incredible job in making Apple once again the very best in the world,” said former Vice President Al Gore. “I have been particularly impressed with the new Mac OS X operating system and the company’s commitment to the open source movement. And I am especially looking forward to working with and learning from the great board members who have guided this legendary company’s inspiring resurgence.”
Mr. Gore was inaugurated as the 45th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 1993. He was re-elected in 1996, and helped lead the U.S. into the longest period of sustained economic growth in American history. He served for a total of eight years as President of the Senate, a member of the cabinet and the National Security Council, and as the leader of a wide range of Administration initiatives including environmental policy, technology, science, communications and government cost reduction.
As a member of the U.S. Congress 25 years ago, he popularized the term “Information Superhighway,” and was instrumental in fighting for federal funds to assist in building what later became the Internet. He has remained an active leader in technology — launching a public/private effort to wire every classroom and library in America to the Internet.
Mr. Gore serves as a Senior Advisor to Google, Inc. He is also a visiting professor at the University of California Los Angeles, Fisk University and Middle Tennessee State University.
Mr. Gore received his B.A. in Government with honors from Harvard University in 1969, and attended the Vanderbilt University School of Religion and the Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Christ! There goes the neighborhood. Almost enough to make me consider Dell, but not quite enough. Is Jobs going to appoint Barbara Streisand to the board next? That would push me over the edge. It was under Clinton/Gore that foreign policy was ignored to the point that we have a hole in the ground where once the WTC towers stood. Hopefully, Gore won’t have much input at all or Apple’s doomed!
Hear, hear, Steve. Mike doesn’t agree with you. Obviously you should change your mind and appoint Mr. Bush Senior instead of Mr. Gore.
Mike said:
It was under Clinton/Gore that foreign policy was ignored to the point that we have a hole in the ground where once the WTC towers stood.
You know this isn’t true. The outgoing admin specifically pointed at al-Quaeda as a huge and growing threat. They even handed over a strategy document for dealing with it. And then the Bush administration didn’t start having meetings about it until just prior to 9/11.
What were they thinking? Can You say Loser!
Marc,
No, Mike is right. Clinton/Gore had opportunities to take out Osama Bin Laden but they didn’t, and that’s largely why 9/11 happened. They were all talk, but no action.
Uninformed and partisan opinions aside (like Mike’s), I think this is facinating and will provide some extra clout for Apple. I am very curious as to what Mr. Gore actually brings to the table (other than name recognition). Considering he actually won the 2000 popular vote, he still has strong political ties and influence on a national level. How Apple will use it should prove to be interesting…
OH GOD.
If there was ever a reason to switch from the Mac to something else…this is it.
Although, maybe Algore can get more Macs inside the Buddist temples.
This is great news! Apple now has THE man that invented the internet on it’s board. (sarcasam mode off now)
Steve have you lost your mind?
Somebody please tell me that uncle Steve’s iCal had the date wrong and that he thought it was April Fool’s Day. Is this some sick joke, or is Apple trying everything it can to sink this ship. Linux looks better and better everyday. Sigh…
Nice pick! Doesn’t anyone remember that Al Gore switched to a Windows laptop when he was VP.
Must be Apple’s New Switch Campaign…I thought the “Dell Guy” was a Mental Midget and was a Perfect Spokesman for the “PC” Target Market…Geeez, Al is is a Mental Micro Midget…I’m Switchin’ to a Dell, Dude.
1.Remember he did invent the internet.
2.He did try to push for national sales tax on all internet purchases so we won’t have to worry about individual states taxes.
3.And The Florida Supreme Court will overide any existing
laws for him.
It is lunacy to pick such a controversial figure, especially during a new era of Corporate Board responsibility. Gore is a divider, not a uniter, and he brings no useful skills to the table. What was Steve thinking?!?
You know, there is an obvious connection here: education. Gore’s political ties could help Apple influence states to adopt Macs for their classrooms, especially with XServe becoming respectable. He might even be able to help get Macs into some national agencies. Think about it…
God, u americans r so self-absorbed that u can’t see reality anymore. Gore gets appointed to the Apple board and u start talking about 9/11? Get a grip!
Whether u like his (former) politics or not, he has extensive, unique experience running the world’s largest organization, experience that will be incredibly valuable to the corporate sector.
Unfortunate but true, 9/11 is a direct result of your long-standing attitude and actions in the world. Once the bombs fall on Iraq, it will only get worse…for all of us. Neither have much to do with any specific administration – except perhaps the current rogue regime.
Rogue: In case you didn’t notice, the republicans control the federal government and Gore will have no influence there. In any case, Board members don’t hawk goods, they just collect big checks. I’d rather see Bill Gates on the board than Chad Gore.
William Bennett has educational ties as well and would have been a much better and less controversial choice.
Al Gore? Sheesh.
Who’s next Monica Lewinsky, Al Sharpton?
Geeez! What are some of you thinking..!? ..what exactly does Bill Clinton/Osama/9-11 have to do with the Apple Board? I realize that we are all rather focused on the political and world stage right now, but c’mon! As ususal, the man who has saved Apple (remember?) has brought a new face and credible talents into the fold. Bravo Steve. It should be interesting!
This must be a sign. It’s time to sell my 80 shares of Apple stock.
Lynn: I don’t think Al Gore brings one credible thing to Apple. He’s a policy wonk with minimal corporate experience. Name one company that Al Gore ever worked for and what did he do for them?
SELL APPLE STOCK NOW.
Perhaps it was wrong of me to hope for responses reflective of a mature, well-informed and critically-thinking audience (thankfully, there was at least one), but these posts don’t measure up to the mark I’d expect from anyone able to read a newspaper, much less operate a computer.
I suppose the nay-sayers are entitled to their opinions in disagreement with the choice of adding Mr. Gore to Apple’s board of directors, but most appear to be rooted in a media headlline-informed stance of “Al Gore is a boring jerk”. Instead of getting all your opinions (and maybe even a few facts) from television entertainment passed for news, try this on for size:
Mr. Gore is a former U.S. Senator and Vice President (i.e. a politician with knowledge of and connections in the federal government), and combine that with the fact that sooner or later, because of copyright, digital rights managment, and security concerns of both private and government information networks and you have a landscape in which having someone like Mr. Gore on your side will be a huge benefit.
Thank you, DK,-for restoring my faith in intellect/knowledge based reasoning. I second your sentiments.
You people are so freaking brainwashed that you can’t see the positive aspects of Al Gore. Forget politics, look at the resume. 90% of the reason you dislike Al Gore are based on political spin and negative campaign attacks. I am so tired of this stupid right/left war. An American is an American period, stop hating people because of their political party. In fact, STOP HATING PEOPLE in general.
Did I miss something?
Who claimed hatred for Al Gore?
I just have no faith in Al Gore’s ability to do anything of a positive nature. As far as his political connections go, well, I think he’s damaged goods.
I’m sure he’s a nice guy and perhaps we could all go bowling sometime soon.
to all of you lemmings…
just get up and leave [apple] now.
the last time i looked, gore won the popular vote.