cannabisnews.com: The Other Lawbreaker The Other Lawbreaker Posted by FoM on November 03, 2000 at 15:07:21 PT Excerpt from Inventing Al Gore by Bill Turque Source: National Review Page 101: Gore insisted as a presidential candidate in 1987 that his dope smoking was "infrequent and rare." He said he smoked marijuana occasionally at Harvard, "once or twice in the army," and "once or twice as a graduate student" before quitting altogether in 1972. But Warnecke and another close friend from Gore's Nashville period, who declined to be named, say that he remained an enthusiastic recreational user through the 1970s, during his newspaper career and up until his first congressional campaign in 1976. They remember him smoking dope as often as three or four times a week: after-hours at Warnecke's house; on weekends at the Gore farm, where they sometimes lit up and canoed the Caney Fork; on an impulsive road trip to Memphis for barbecue; and even once, according to the anonymous friend, in his car cruising the police beat for the Tennessean. "He smoked as much as anybody I knew down there, and loved it," said Warnecke. Al Gore stoned was a mix of expansiveness and paranoia, friends recall. He could be ironically humorous and self-aware about his lot as heir apparent in a political family. But he was also worried about his bright future literally going up in smoke. "He'd go around the room and close all the curtains and turn the lights out so no one could see," said Warnecke. "He was paranoid about getting busted." Other friends from Gore's youth are extremely guarded on the subject of his drug use. "I think this is one of these areas that could be damaging for Al, so I think I'm going to have to keep my comments private," said Eve Zibart. His Harvard roommate Bob Somerby said that dope smoking was "one area no friend of Al would ever discuss, because it's so inflammatory." Pages 197-199 At 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, on three hours' sleep, Al Gore stepped in front of a roomful of reporters and described his marijuana consumption as "infrequent and rare." He said that he first tried it as a Harvard junior, and that "at the beginning of my senior year, I tried it a few more times. Then I got absorbed in my studies and after that point it was extremely rare, extremely rare." He filled his account with lawyerly stipulations worthy of Bill Clinton: never bought it, never smoked it while on duty in the army, never tried anything stronger, never supported decriminalization. Unlike Clinton, Gore inhaled, but he was determined to leave the impression that he never enjoyed it. "When I was twenty-four, I decided it was wrong for me," he said. "When I became a man, I put away childish things." Gore still challenged the relevance of the issue but said he wanted to "unburden myself rather than wrestle with it in private because I want to be honest about it." Gore reprised the message in Des Moines that evening, eclipsing his speech assailing Iowa's role in the nomination process. In the next day's papers, Gore supporters argued that he deserved big points for his candor. "Al Gore is the first real political leader of his generation — the baby boomers — to come clean on the 60s. It's an indication of his honesty," Bob Squier proclaimed. The Tennessean, one of Gore's employers when he was lighting up, was obliged to check out the veracity of his "infrequent and rare" explanation. When reporter Jim O'Hara called that weekend, Warnecke didn't stay with Gore's preferred script about the sanctity of his personal life. Instead, he told what he thought was a more nuanced, authentic–sounding lie. There was no mention of the long hashish-filled evenings, or the road trip to Memphis, or Gore's paranoia about getting caught. "I can remember only one specific time, and I think it was right after he got back from Vietnam in 1971," Warnecke said in a front-page piece that ran November 10. "Once he was into life back in the States, I just never saw him involved in anything like that. The many times I was around Al this was not a big thing." O'Hara didn't push him very hard, Warnecke remembers. He was the only person in the article, based on more than forty interviews, who acknowledged seeing Gore smoke. Many of those quoted in the piece were older colleagues or figures unlikely to have partied with Gore, including Vanderbilt Divinity professor Jack Forstman and Tennessean managing editor Wayne Whitt. Those in his immediate social circle either had nothing to say or were missing entirely. Warnecke's ex-wife Nancy, who still worked at the paper, said: "All has spoken for himself, and I have no comment." Three others, unnamed former staff members, declined to respond to questions, citing, per Gore's talking points, his right to privacy. The story quickly receded, pushed off the media's radar by Gore's carefully trimmed version o f the truth and a clean bill from the Tennessean. Yet Gore considered Warnecke's revision of the past, reducing his drug use to a single innocent-sounding episode, a betrayal, and it effectively ended their friendship. Although Warnecke remained in touch with Tipper — his stepson interned in her office a few summers ago — he hasn't spoken to Gore since 1987. The subsequent years have been difficult: his second wife, Linda, who also struggled with drug addiction, committed suicide in 1991. Warnecke, who has battled with depression most of his life, was treated for a severe episode following her death and remains on disability from his job at Metropolitan Life. He said that his decision to correct the deception he left in the record grew out of the psychotherapy he's received over the last couple of years. "At first it didn't bother me," he said. "But as the years have gone by, I felt very bad that I lied to my own paper, lied to a fellow reporter. At the time I looked at it as a spin." The issue is not smoking dope, he said, but the measure of a man who would browbeat a friend into covering up. "It's not something that you ask your friends to do." Source: National Review (US)Author: Excerpt from Inventing Al Gore by Bill TurquePublished: November 3, 2000Address: 215 Lexington AvenueNew York, New York 10016 Copyright 2000 National Review Contact: letters nationalreview.com Website: http://www.nationalreview.com/ Forum: http://www.nationalreview.com/forum/forum.shtmlRelated Articles:The Choice 2000 Interview With John Warneckehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7250.shtmlOne Other Journalist Recalls Gore's Drug Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/4/thread4471.shtmlReports of Gore Pot Use Raise Complex Questions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread4470.shtmlSmoke In His Eyeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/4/thread4429.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Warneckehttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Warnecke Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by Frank S. World on November 04, 2000 at 10:56:06 PT FoM, you are right! Yes, a lot of progress has been made. The next few years are going to be the last few years of prohibition. The next election will include clear choices, and the end of two parties dominating the political scene. I'm saving my champagne for then.In the meantime, there is still plenty of work for us to do, but our efforts are already paying off. Justice and freedom will ultimately prevail! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Antianti on November 04, 2000 at 08:18:39 PT: "Message" to the Children "When I became a man, I put away childish things." said Gore. So smoking pot is for children? I hope people do not put much hope into Gore changing drug policy although the international community and the several enlightened states that have instituted more progressive views would put the pressure on anyone who holds the office. Gore will morph himself into whatever makes the people around him happy. I am voting 3rd party. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by dddd on November 04, 2000 at 02:19:24 PT driven to drink Yup FoM,,we probably have caused many a retentive prig to hit the sauce....Even better,,we have hopefully swayed some stressed out,stoicly prim Paxil Valium addicts to venture forth into the wonderful world of natural herbal relaxation. Dont stop looking on the brite side FoM.Optomism is better than pessimism.....JAH shine on you...........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 03, 2000 at 21:43:34 PT You guys are right I know Hi dddd and Frank! I know you both are right but I try to keep hoping. I guess I am an eternal optimist always looking for a miracle around the corner but you know I have seen my share so they do happen. Just take a minute and think about the ground that has been covered in the last year. We have been driving the poor straight people to drink I bet! LOL!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dddd on November 03, 2000 at 21:24:26 PT Obese vocalist Your right FoM,,in theory,it's never too late........But I'm not looking forward to hearing the bloated songbird warble. None the less,I think Nader votes are going to be higher than anyone thought. At least Frank S. World wont be wasting any champagne this year......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Frank S. World on November 03, 2000 at 19:08:28 PT If only... If Gore had stuck to his position of December 1999 of leaving medical marijuana decisions up to doctors, he might have had my vote. But since he has indicated he will instead continue the lies, hypocrisy and brutalization of the Clinton Administration, I'll be voting for someone else. It's too bad he sold his soul for politics.I learned my lesson back in 1992, when I excitedly awaited the elelection results expecting Clinton-Gore to usher in a new era in US drug policy. The champagne was bubbly, but Clinton-Gore left all our expectations flat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 03, 2000 at 17:57:55 PT It's not too late I sure understand what you are saying dddd! It sure isn't too late! Not yet! It ain't over til the fat lady sings! And she will be singing big time on November 7th! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dddd on November 03, 2000 at 17:38:30 PT vote Quite frankly,I would seriously consider voting for the corporate whore Gore,if he was to dare to get real about marijuana prohibition,,,,maybe..........dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: