Al Gore: Path to the peace prize

Al Gore Jr is shown with his parents, US representative Al Gore Sr and Pauline, in this undated photo Photograph: The Tennessean/AP

March 17 1957, Washington, DC: A young Al Gore Jr walking with his senator father, Al Gore, from the Capitol Building with his mother Pauline and sister Nancy Photograph: AP

1971: Al Gore is shown in military uniform during his five months in Vietnam. Gore enlisted in 1969, at the end of his senior year, saying he could not leave his slot to be filled by some other young man Photograph: AP

Febuary 6 1974, Nashville, Tennessee: Reporter Al Gore with chief photographer Bill Preston. When Gore returned from Vietnam, he landed a job as a reporter at The Tennessean in Nashville, simultaneously attending Vanderbilt's divinity school and later its law school Photograph: Bill Easley/AP

April 13 1988, New York: The Democratic rivals for the presidential nomination, Al Gore, Rev Jesse Jackson and governor Michael Dukakis, at the Daily News debate Photograph: Steve Liss/Getty

July 1 1992, New York City, New York: President and vice-president nominees Bill Clinton and Al Gore raise clasped hands victoriously at the Democratic convention at Madison Square Garden Photograph: Steve Liss/Getty

January 20 1993, Washington, DC: Bill Clinton raises his hand at his presidential inauguration ceremony, with vice-president Al Gore to his left Photograph: Brad Markel/Getty

July 18 2000, Kansas City, Missouri: US vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore addresses supporters at a Gore 2000 rally in Barney Allis Park Photograph: Luke Frazza/AFP

October 4 2000, Warren, Ohio: Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and his wife Tipper wave to supporters at a town square rally Photograph: Scott Applewhite/AP

December 13 2000, New York City, New York: People in Times Square watch Al Gore concede the race for president to George W Bush Photograph: Chris Hondros/Getty

September 2006: a still from Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth Photograph: PR

February 25 2007, Los Angeles, California: Al Gore and director Davis Guggenheim pose with the Oscar after An Inconvenient Truth is named best documentary feature Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/AP

July 7 2007, East Rutherford, New Jersey: Al Gore speaks on stage during Live Earth New York at Giants Stadium Photograph: Evan Agostini/Getty