TIPPER GORE FINDS PEOPLE DIFFERENT IN '92

In 1988, Tipper Gore was on the presidential campaign trail working on behalf of her husband as he sought the Democratic nomination. Sen. Al Gore won a few southern primaries, but came up short in the delegate hunt and conceded to Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Gore emerged from the campaign highly regarded as a future presidential candidate. The senator opted to sit out the 1992 campaign and remained in the background until this summer when he was chosen by Gov. Bill Clinton to be his running mate.

With that decision, Mrs. Gore found herself back on the campaign trail - a hectic pace she clearly enjoys. But she has found people this year to be a little different than they were four years ago.

"There's a real difference now," she said in an interview during a visit to Cape Girardeau Friday. "I think problems are worse and the circumstances in which many families find themselves are more desperate, and, as a consequence, a majority of people seem to be ready for change. I see that as a marked difference to 1988," said Gore.

In addition, Mrs. Gore said she senses a much greater awareness of the need to protect the environment and the fact there does not have to be a choice made between jobs and the environment.

"I think people also have a greater understanding of the inter-connecting of our country to other countries of the world," she said. "They understand Germany and Japan are ahead of us in educating children and economic development competition, and they are ready to buckle down and do something about it."

There is also an increased awareness of poverty and hunger, the need for education reform, and the urgency of putting a focus on domestic problems, she said.

Gore contended that people are beginning to see the Democratic ticket offers the kind of leadership to prepare the nation for global competition of the 21st century.

"While many people have been mired in cynicism or despair in thinking their vote won't count or there is nothing they can do, this year Bill Clinton and Al Gore are aspiring them to hope again, and to know their vote is very critical."

Gore often refers to the "new Democratic Party," which she described as a response to the leadership of people like U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia, Clinton and Gore.

"It represents a more pragmatic, responsible approach to government, even as it promotes the idea that government can do more than it has been doing in the last 12 years to benefit average American working families," she said.

"I think there is a realization that government is not the answer to all problems and that government has a limit; and the new and fresh creative approach is based on ideas more than putting more money toward the complex problems that we are facing."

As an example of a new approach, she cited the welfare system in Arkansas, where 17,000 people have been taken off welfare and are not earning paychecks. "He (Clinton) has injected the idea that welfare is a helping hand for a limited amount of time, not a way of life," said Gore.

"The new Democratic Party stands for a strong and sensible role in a complex world, understanding foreign policy and defense issues, but that it is also time to concentrate on our problems here on the homefront. That our children's education, preserving the environment, health care, and everything will contribute to a very sound economic foundation in this country should now be seen as part of the approach to a national security of keeping our country strong."

The 44-year old Gore grew up in Arlington, Va., and was born Mary Elizabeth Atcheson. She was nicknamed Tipper by her mother. She and Al Gore were married in 1970 and have four children.

Gore, who has a bachelor's and master's degree in psychology, has focused much of her attention on issues dealing with children and the homeless. She is chairman of Tennessee Voice for Children, a coalition to promote the need for community based mental health services for children.

Earlier this year she was presented the "Remember the Children Award" by the National Mental Health Association. In conjunction with the PTA, she helped start the Parents Music Resource Center in 1985, which serves as a clearinghouse of information on popular music for parents. In 1987 she published a book: "Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society."

Al Gore has served eight years in the U.S. House and eight years in the Senate. His wife said that while she is aware of the hostility toward members of Congress, she has not felt that in Tennessee because of the good relationship her husband has had with constituents.

"He made himself the link between the people and their government, and that is the way it was originally designed," said Gore, noting that he has had over 3,000 open meetings with people.

Asked to describe her husband, Mrs. Gore observed: "As a human being he is extremely intelligent and he puts that to good use in serving the people he represents in Tennessee; he stays in touch with the people. He has been an effective, compassionate, intelligent legislator for the people of Tennessee for 16 years. He is a very strong, committed father and family man.

"I think those are the qualities most people are looking for."