It was the Clinton people, not the Gore people, who were calling the shots at Defense and Justice throughout the 1990s.
Gore was much more responsible and serious when he actually held office. There is no question that he has become unserious and radical since Bush was elected President, but that does not reflect his positions when he was VP.
Throughout American history, Democrats/liberals who are elected President moderate toward the center once in office; and, reciprocally, Republicans/conservatives move leftward. It's called governing.
Gore proved how dangerous he would be when he came unhinged trying to get all those recounts. I don't want anyone running this country who wants it as bad as he did. Gore was up to his eyebrows in the Chinese and other stuff... also his trips to Russia -- nothing he did was for the benefit of the American People. IMO the man is and was an idiot.
You should take the time to read the whacked out liberal book he wrote published well before ever running with Clinton as VP. Gore is as he was, it was just kept hidden during his VP years probably by those who had some common sense.