Bill Clinton and Al Gore in dramatic release of two imprisoned journalists

Bill Clinton and Al Gore, considered almost joined at the hips one time as President and Vice President but separated and aloof for a while, had an emotional re-union after they had two US journalists released from prison for illegally entering North Korea.

Clinton had met with President Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang, in the Capital of North Korea recently. It was high drama few miles from my home in Los Angeles when Clinton's plane landed at Burbank Airport as a tearing crowd cheered the two journalists as well as Clinton and Gore-seen together first time in nine years.

Bill Clinton	Al Gore

Clinton and Gore hugged watched by millions on TV and the two rescued journalists and their weeping families. It was cries of joy as the rescue had been an uncertainty until the last minute. The tableau of the re-union was unforgettable theatre made for TV.

They had parted company after Gore's disappointing loss to George W. Bush in 2000 when Clinton campaigned for Gore with less than full gusto, while Gore was accused of distancing himself from Clinton after the infamous Monica Lewinsky episode. So, it was a gripping moment at the Airport. Clinton and Gore had jointly worked in the rescue mission with hours of long-distance calls and finally a face-to-face meeting in North Korea between Presidents Clinton and Kim Jong-Il.

Tableau made for TV

On the tarmac at Burbank were the two dominant Democrats of the 1990s, Gore and Clinton, coming together almost like after a bitter divorce, who had crucially negotiated the end of an international crisis on behalf of President Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Secretary of State and Obama's erstwhile rival for the nomination in 2008. Gore did most of the backroom work from LA while Clinton negotiated in North Korea. Clinton-Gore parting seemed destined to end in a sad departure for the two close associates as they had little contact for nearly nine years. They had built different careers-Clinton with his Global Initiative and Gore winning the Nobel Prize for his environment efforts regarding global warming. They shared a common past but had made peace with their own lives as they drifted away.

"A special thanks to President Clinton," Gore said, as Clinton gazed at him, his head nodding: "My partner and friend, so grateful." Mike Feldman, a Democratic consultant who had worked for both men, watched in amazement. He said they have off and on done different things. But when you work side by side as they did, that's a pretty strong bond and that doesn't go away. People say they don't spend a lot of time together - well, they live in different cities."

Both Clinton and Gore looked aged a little, even showing heavier heft and grayer hair.

But the fascinating and era-defining time when they governed as partners were unforgettable to many of those present at the Airport. During the election campaign of 1992 Bill-Hillary Clinton and Al- Tipper Gore combination were described as two couples on a double date going round the country.

Still, many later felt that it was a bond seemingly more pragmatic than personal, by two of the most ambitious men who had evolved and found a chemistry born of political necessity which ultimately landed them at White House.

Bonds gone sour

Laura Ling	Euna Lee

Similar bonding and later tensed up relationship between George Bush and Dick Cheney from 2000 to 2008 brought obvious comparisons to surface as politics had lived up to be the fawning grounds for sour relationships once out of office. The Election campaign of 2000 was Gore's to 'lose as Bush was way behind in the polls. Gore lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush on a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Gore-Clinton confrontation at White House according to many was contentious as Gore blamed Clinton for his loss - suggesting that he had been dragged down by the burden of Clinton's impeachment proceedings - and Clinton angrily retorted Gore for distancing himself from Clinton and his record.

All that seemed to have been forgotten as Gore called Clinton two weeks ago and asked for his help to rescue the two journalists who had been supporters of both Clinton and Gore. So when the two shook hands at the Airport there were wild cheers. The moment was unforgettable.

As recently as June, Ling and Lee had been sentenced to 12 years' hard labour for allegedly entering North Korea illegally. Clinton was able to get them a pardon from President Kim Jong-Il very quickly after arrival. US President Barack Obama had delivered a verbal message to the Korean President, many believe. It is also reported that the journalists may have got their freedom due to Hillary Clinton's appeal for amnesty and a nudge and a nod from China.