MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has 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.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
July 12, 1996 - David Frost interviews one of the nation's most prominent conservatives, William F. Buckley Jr., in a special edition of Talking with David Frost. Buckley is the host of the PBS program Firing Line.
July 11, 1996 - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rudy Boschwitz visits Midday to share his campaign platform and answer questions from listeners as part of Midday's series of programs with the candidates. Topics include DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, minimum wage, taxes, and federal budget.
July 10, 1996 - Midday talks with University of Minnesota President Nils Hasselmo. Topics include talks on debate over closure of general college idea, tenure rules, and campus security. Hasselmo also answers listener questions.
July 9, 1996 - Midday takes up baseball at the Major League All-Star break with St. Paul Saints owner Mike Veeck and Minnesota Public Radio sports commentator Howard Sinker, who is also State News editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Veeck and Sinker share their thoughts on the state of MLB baseball and also answer listener questions.
July 5, 1996 - This Midday program presents speeches by Manning Marable and Glen Loury from the World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Ethnic Economic inequality, which was sponsored recently by the University of Minnesota’s Roy Wilkins Center and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
July 3, 1996 - Midday examines juvenile crime with guests Hennepin County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Charles Porter and Minneapolis Police Sergeant Bret Lindback. Topics include first-time offenders, juvenile justice system, and current trends. Porter and Lindback also answer listener questions.
July 1, 1996 - Imation, a data corporation, is starting a new life as an independent company in Oakdale. MPR’s Gary Eicthen interviews Dennis Farmer, vice president for Marketing at Imation about the organization and its future.
July 1, 1996 - Mark Rotenberg, University of Minnesota general counsel on Supreme Court affirmative action and how it could affect U of M admissions.
June 27, 1996 - Midday rebroadcasts the Minnesota Public Radio documentary Signs and Wonders, produced by Mary Losure. It takes a look at tongue-speaking and the rapidly growing Pentecostalism movement.
June 26, 1996 - The Reform Party's endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, Dean Barkley, is on Midday to answer listener questions, as part of a series of programs with the candidates for U.S. Senate which will be running on Midday during summer and fall.