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.
May 31, 1996 - This Midday program features a live broadcast from the Republican State Convention with host Gary Eichten and MPR political commentators Bob Meek and Tom Horner. Program includes an interview with Republican State Convention Chair Chris Georgacas and listener questions.
May 30, 1996 - Midday presents a live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough. He is the author of the prize-winning biography Truman and numerous other books and is well-known as the host of the PBS television series The American Experience. His Westminster Town Hall Forum lecture is titled, American Society: Civil and Uncivil. McCullough’s speech is the last in a Westminster series “Voices of Consensus.”
May 28, 1996 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Ann McBride, president and CEO of Common Cause, a non-partisan citizens' lobby organization dealing with issues of money in politics, government ethics, and government responsibility. The organization's current focus is campaign finance reform and special interest influence. McBride also answers listeners questions.
May 23, 1996 - Rick McCormick, associate professor with Department of German, Scandinavian, and Dutch Studies at University of Minnesota's Rick McCormick comments on German-U.S. relations.
May 22, 1996 - Dr. Michael Maddaus, a participant in local Father to Father program, describes it’s importance. Vice President Al Gore visits the Twin Cities to support the mentoring program.
May 21, 1996 - MPR film critic Debra Alexander comments on Joel and Ethan films and the adoration they receive at Cannes Film Festival. The Coen brothers are at French film for their film Fargo.
May 20, 1996 - Midday speaks with Minnesota 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar, whose in the studio to talk about aviation safety, the BWCA, the congressional debate over the budget, and more. Oberstar, the senior member of Minnesota's congressional delegation, also answers listener questions.
May 17, 1996 - Pam Schomaker, survey manager of Minnesota Center for Survey Research at the University of Minnesota, discusses latest on research, data…and misinformation.
May 16, 1996 - Midday presents Nobel Prize-winning writer Toni Morrison speaking as the distinguished Carlson lecturer at the University of Minnesota. Morrison’s speech was entitled “Mutual Hesitancies,” looking at the relationship between fiction and history.
May 13, 1996 - Tim Giago, publisher of Lakota Times, comments on Chip Wadena, tribal gaming, and the varied forms and challenges of tribal government.