Tipper Gore, an amateur genealogical researcher, discovered that her
husband's great-great uncle, Gunther Gore, a fellow lacking in character,
was hanged in 1889 in Tennessee for horse stealing and train robbery.
The only known photograph of Gunther shows him standing on the gallows. On
the back of the picture is this inscription: "Gunther Gore; horse thief,
sent to Tennessee Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Tennessee Flyer
six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
After letting Al Gore and his staff of professional image consultants
verify the findings, they decided to scan Gunther's picture, then enlarge,
edit and crop the image so that the final outcome was just a head shot.
Then they spun some new words to accompanying the picture. No one could
ever say the words weren't true:
"Gunther Gore was a famous rancher in early Tennessee history. His
business empire grew to include the acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and he regularly had intimate dealings with the Tennessee railroad.
Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a
government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the
railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the
renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Gunther passed away during
an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which
he was standing collapsed."
husband's great-great uncle, Gunther Gore, a fellow lacking in character,
was hanged in 1889 in Tennessee for horse stealing and train robbery.
The only known photograph of Gunther shows him standing on the gallows. On
the back of the picture is this inscription: "Gunther Gore; horse thief,
sent to Tennessee Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Tennessee Flyer
six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
After letting Al Gore and his staff of professional image consultants
verify the findings, they decided to scan Gunther's picture, then enlarge,
edit and crop the image so that the final outcome was just a head shot.
Then they spun some new words to accompanying the picture. No one could
ever say the words weren't true:
"Gunther Gore was a famous rancher in early Tennessee history. His
business empire grew to include the acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and he regularly had intimate dealings with the Tennessee railroad.
Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a
government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the
railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the
renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Gunther passed away during
an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which
he was standing collapsed."