Midday, the longest running MPR news program, began as an extension of a daily half hour noon newscast called “Midday Report.” In September 1971 it expanded into various longer iterations, running weekdays, as well as encompassing some weekend programming. During this period, it was described as: “A program of news and information, a calendar of the day’s cultural events and the environmental report.” In January 1972 the name changed to Midday, and a month later it was described as: “A program of news, consumer and environmental information, discussion of public issues, and reports by the MPR and NPR news staffs."
Separate MPR public affairs programming were featured, such as Spectrum, Sportfolio, MPR Special, Insight, Weekend, Forum, and MPR’s Mainstreet Radio, among others. Local programming was also featured, including Westminster Town Hall Forum, Carlson Lecture Series, Minnesota Meeting, Minnesota Press Club, and Mondale Policy Forum. National outside programming included Options, Horizons, Communique, National Press Club, Chappaqua Lecture, Ford Hall Forum, Commonwealth Club, among others; and interview shows from the likes of Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley and Nancy Fushan.
As the years progressed, the “Interview” and “Call-in” would become a regular format for Midday. Beginning in the mid-1970’s until 1992, Midday was hosted by Bob Potter, after which, Gary Eichten became the permanent host. Many guest hosts also participated over the years. During the Eichten era, Midday became a daily two-hour program staple, running from 11AM-1PM. Midday ended its run in January 2012, when long-time host Eichten retired.
April 6, 1985 - Call-in show with Miles Lord, federal judge on United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, on the judiciary and his views from the bench.
April 11, 1985 - Linguistics pioneer Noam Chomsky looks at critics of American policies in an historical perspective and determines that even the harshest of critics operate within narrow constraints set by the government. Dr. Chomsky delivered this lecture "The Manufacture of Consent" at the University of Minnesota on April 3, 1985.
April 13, 1985 - On this Weekend program, Bob Potter interviews former U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy. McCarthy discusses his latest book and Vietnam. He also answers listener questions.
April 15, 1985 - The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaking to nearly 4,000 spectators April 1, 1985 at Halenbeck Hall. Jackson was touring the state to rally Minnesota farmers. He spoke about the farming crisis, the federal deficit, defense spending and education. Jackson said urban dwellers and rural farmers must unite for economic justice. Jackson came to Central Minnesota to appear at a rally in support of Starbuck farmer Jim Langman. A foreclosure sale on Langman's farm was set to be held in Glenwood that day, but when the mortgage carrier, Travelers Insurance Company, heard of the impending rally, it called the sale off.
April 24, 1985 - Jean Olson, president of the Minnesota School Boards Association, and Curt Johnson, executive director of the Citizens League, discuss open public-school enrollment and other educational reforms provisions presented by Governor Perpich. Olson and Johnson also answer listener questions.
April 29, 1985 - John Walsh, a special consultant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, speaking to a group of pediatricians from around the country meeting in Rochester. Walsh addresses the problem of missing and exploited children in this country. Walsh is perhaps best-known as the father of the little boy named Adam, who back in 1981 was abducted and murdered. Since then, Mr. Walsh has been lobbying legislators around the country for better child protection laws. He was instrumental in the passage of the Missing Children Act back in 1982. Last year, President Reagan appointed John Walsh to serve as a special consultant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In that capacity, Walsh has been traveling around the country stressing the need for better laws to protect children as well as reforms in the criminal justice system to facilitate the reporting and location of missing children.
May 2, 1985 - John Rollwagen, CEO of Cray Research who just returned from a trip to Japan, answers listener questions about trade and high technology business development.
May 7, 1985 - Special segment on the "very old", those who have lived more than one hundred years. The program is entitled "voices of age: life after one hundred", and was produced by John Biewen of MPR.
May 14, 1985 - Reverend Tshenuwani Simon Farisani of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa answers listener questions about his experiences living under apartheid.
May 17, 1985 - Robert Townsend, author and business executive, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Townsend’s address was on the topic, "What to do When the Wheels Fall Off." Following speech, Townsend answered audience questions. Townsend’s books are "Up the Organization" and "Further Up the Organization". He is the former chief executive of Avis Rent-A-Car and has served as a consultant for such firms as Twentieth Century Fox and Dun & Bradstreet. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.