From Dave Farber's Interesting People list:

Subject: IP: VP Gore and the Internet
   Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 13:13:23 -0500
   From: Dave Farber 
     To: ip-sub-1@admin.listbox.com

I would like to add my personal observations. Gore has over the past 
years served the Internet community in several unique fashions. When in 
the Senate, he helped conceive and lead the effort that resulted in the 
NSFNet and the HPCC initiatives. Both of these were major critical steps 
in the creation of the non technical aspects of the Internet. The 
spreading of the culture by the NSFnet was a critical step for the 
Internet and Gores political and personal support was a key part of 
making it fly in the Congressional process. (I know I was along with 
others an architect of NSFNet). HPCC was the research vehicle that lead 
us to high speed networks in our current internet community. 

His image of the Digital Superhighway created an image that excited the 
public and the congress.  As a PITAC member I have had an opportunity  
to meet with the VP and have seen his deep insight into the future of 
the net and his support for it and its future -- the IT2 initiative is 
an example. 

So no,  Gore did not technically create the Internet but without him, 
there is a good chance it would not be where it is today -- the engine 
of the US future prosperity.

Dave