Background
Gore was born on May 24, 1886, in Knottsville, Kentucky, the son of Joseph Henry Gore and Mary Carrico. His childhood was not pleasant because his father's death required that he work to support his family.
politician newspaper publisher
Gore was born on May 24, 1886, in Knottsville, Kentucky, the son of Joseph Henry Gore and Mary Carrico. His childhood was not pleasant because his father's death required that he work to support his family.
Gore attended school briefly in Owensborough, Kentucky, after which his mother tutored him at home. Despite his financial handicap, Gore attended St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. He graduated with a B. A. in 1904.
Shortly after his wedding in 1907, Gore's career plans began to blossom when he became a reporter for the Evansville (Indiana) Press. He worked his way through the ranks and became managing editor of the Evansville Press in 1909. He served in this position until 1916, in which year he became the editor and publisher of the Terre Haute (Indiana) Post, remaining there until 1921. Because of his interest in his family, Gore wrote two books geared toward children during his tenure at the Post. Wampus Cat was published in 1918, followed by Newsboys' Mystery Novels that same year. This second work was influenced by his involvement in the newspaper business and journalism. Despite his love for journalism, Gore found he was also interested in insurance. In fact, Gore is credited with having introduced the idea of selling liability insurance through subscriptions in newspapers in the early years of his career. His interest developed to such an extent that he resigned from the newspaper business and devoted his energies full-time to his insurance business, which eventually amassed over $2 million. It was so profitable that Gore founded the R. H. Gore Company, Insurance, in Chicago in 1921. Despite his success in the insurance business, Gore decided to retire because of poor health. In 1929, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area. There Gore bought a farm and returned to his first love, the newspaper business. In 1929, following a savage hurricane, Gore took advantage of lowered real estate values and bought three small local newspapers, including the Fort Lauderdale News. In 1932, Gore supported the presidential candidacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and became a member of the National Democratic Committee. After Roosevelt was elected, Gore's influence in the newspaper industry assured him a position in the new president's entourage. During Roosevelt's first year in office, Gore served as the president's national finance chairman. When Puerto Rican Territorial Governor James Beverly stepped down because he was frustrated with the legislature, Gore pressed his own candidacy for the post, as did several influential members of Puerto Rico's upper class. On April 27, 1933, Gore got his wish and was nominated governor of Puerto Rico. His selection was viewed with some dismay by native Puerto Ricans. Because of his strong belief in Roosevelt's New Deal policies and his desire, in the words of Raymond Carr, to create a "local Democratic party by a judicious handout of jobs, " the new governor ran afoul of several political opponents who did not share his views. Gore's own lack of political tact did not help the situation. Indeed, his actions helped the Puerto Rican legislature reduce the governor's position to a figurehead post. After several battles with the legislature over the university and over the teaching of the English language in the island's public schools - which led to student protests and civil unrest - Gore resigned as governor and returned to Florida. He then resumed his interests in the newspaper business and insurance, but he also built hotels, including the Governor's Club Hotel and Sea Ranch Resort Hotel, both in Fort Lauderdale; the Park Hill Hotel in Hendersonville, North Carolina; the Franklin Hotel in Brevard, North Carolina; the Green Park Hotel in Blowing Rock, North Carolina; and the Algren Hotel in Ashville, North Carolina. These hotels were built under Gore's direction between 1935 and 1939. A devout Roman Catholic, Gore became benefactor of Notre Dame University and left many of his papers and personal effects to the institution. He also continued his activity in the newspaper business, starting the Pompano Beach Sun Sentinel in 1960 and holding the honorary chairmanship of the Gore Newspaper Company from 1963 to 1972. He died in his adopted home, Fort Lauderdale, on December 26, 1972.
Chairman of the Gore Newspaper Company (1963-1972)
On October 2, 1907, Gore married Lorena Haury. They had nine children.
