For many who have listened to the airwaves over the previous decades, Gary Eichten’s voice is synonymous to Minnesota Public Radio. The retired MPR News editor-at-large Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at MPR, including news director, special events producer, and station manager. He routinely served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live-special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday (which he hosted for more than 20 years!).
It all began on April Fool’s Day in 1967, when Eichten started his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville’s KSJR, MPR’s first station. He became the station’s one-man news department and quickly found that turning up his headphones forced him to speak more intimately, which gave him that radio voice.
In the fall of 1992, Eichten moved from hosting the regional late-afternoon edition of All Things Considered to hosting Midday. In his new role, Eichten personified the art of hosting, a tradition begun by the program’s previous host, Bob Potter. It also solidified Gary’s distinct tone and insightful questions that listeners came to hear as being MPR.
As Midday host, Eichten let his guests answer those questions and sought to understand their responses. With daily early morning research, his respectful but direct on-air style, and assistance from his long-time producer Sara Meyer, Eichten found himself making memorable radio…from a poignant sign-off of the original regional “All Things Considered,” a live on-air moment with a contentious Governor Ventura, to even a pledge drive.
Among the honors Eichten received during his MPR career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award for Best Local News Program and the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame.
Simply put, Mr. Eichten is a Minnesota treasure, on and off the air.
This large curation is indicative of the breadth of that work.
May 10, 1994 - David Rusk, former mayor of Albuquerque; and George Latimer, former mayor of St. Paul, discuss the issues and solutions of poverty in the Twin Cities and its suburbs. Rusk and Latimer also answer listener questions.
May 17, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews Marvin Marshak, chairman of the Physics Department at University of Minnesota, about impactful scientific life of the late professor Al Nier. Marshal also discusses what lies ahead in the study of physics for the next generation of scientists.
May 17, 1994 - Two DFL candidates seeking party endorsement for Minnesota Governor visit Midday to pitch their candidacies. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and State Senator John Marty debate topics of education, welfare, DFL endorsement, and community investment. The two also answer listener questions.
May 19, 1994 - With the National Rifle Association holding its annual convention in Minneapolis, Midday has a call-in on gun control and the NRA, as well as a discussion with guests Howard Orenstein, Minnesota DFL state representative; and Richard Gardiner, NRA’s Counsel for Legislative Affairs.
May 30, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Matthew Ramadan, member of Nation of Islam in Minnesota, about the differences between his religious organization and Louis Farrakhan’s Black nationalist organization, the Nation of Islam.
June 3, 1994 - A Midday program from the DFL Convention. Host Gary Eichten interviews Ann Wynia, the DFL Party's candidate for U.S. Senate, who discusses campaign issues. Wynia also answers listener questions.
June 14, 1994 - Conservative political activist Marsie Leier comments on waves of change in Independent Republican Party and talks of a Independent Republican purge.
June 17, 1994 - Midday broadcasts from the I-R convention, with host Gary Eichten interviewing Allen Quist, the former Minnesota state representative and Minnesota Independent Republican Party candidate for Governor. Quist talks about his campaign platform and answers listener questions.
June 21, 1994 - MPR’s John Biewen and Kate Cavett, both producers of the documentary O Freedom Over Me, discuss excerpts, interviews, and outtakes that did not make it into final production. The documentary focused on the 30-year anniversary of Freedom Summer.
June 22, 1994 - Midday begins a news series that invites Minnesota political candidates to the MPR studios for a closer hour-long look at individual campaigns. Series starts with guest Tony Bouza, who is running for the Governor’s office. Bouza answers listener questions and discusses his platform and views.