Word today that Al and Tipper Gore are separating was made via an e-mail to their friends and family, according to most news accounts.

Politico is credited with breaking the story, which grew first out of the e-mail from the couple, a sign of the changing times via the Internet. But it is reassuring that Politico and most other outlets sought to confirm it with Gore's office.

“We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought we have decided to separate,” the e-mail said, according to The New York Times. “This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together, following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further.”

As the story unfolds, it will be interesting to see how far news outlets speculate about the cause. Many reports addressed the issue and noted already that associates of the couple declare no infidelity is involved. Let's see how long that lasts.