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.
November 5, 1990 - Midday rebroadcasts an MPR Special broadcast of Focus on the Issues program, where DFL incumbent Governor Rudy Perpich and his Independent-Republican challenger Arne Carlson answered questions from listening audience and from special guests in MPR studios all around the state. Topics included education, state finances, health care, the environment, taxes, abortion and more.
October 23, 1990 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Arne Carlson about his renewed gubernatorial candidacy. Despite losing in the Republican primary earlier in year to Jon Grunseth, Carlson has chosen to still run for governor.
October 10, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten talks with former owner of Minnie the Cow (aka Minnie Moo), a white and black Holstein cow that is going to now roam Walt Disney World.
September 21, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten presents interview segments of Andy MacPhail, general manager for the Minnesota Twins, who breaks down what went wrong in the 90-91’ MLB season.
September 11, 1990 - Former Minnesota Governor Elmer L. Andersen comments on his concerns of public apathy in the political environment. He sees a lack of organized activity and programs to draw public interest.
September 4, 1990 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews a Czech University of Minnesota professor about his thoughts on Slovak statesman Alexander Dubček.
August 24, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Lucia Wilkes, co-director of Women Against Military Madness, about group’s Persian Gulf position and concerns over a pending war.
August 2, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Peter Popovich about studies on racial bias and discrimination in the court system.
June 3, 1990 - MPR Special Live Coverage of Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the Soviet Union, making a one-day visit to Minnesota. Program contains various reports, interviews and commentary. This segment contains Gorbachev leaving Minnesota. Includes discussion of planned but canceled visit to local family farm. This is part eight of eight programs.
June 3, 1990 - MPR Special Live Coverage of Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the Soviet Union, making a one-day visit to Minnesota. Program contains various reports, interviews, and commentary. This segment contains Gorbachev visiting CDC (Control Data Corporation), in Bloomington. This is part seven of eight programs.