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.
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 meeting with business leaders at Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis.
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 arriving at Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis.
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 traveling to State Capitol, then heading to Minneapolis. This is part four 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 at the Governor’s Mansion.
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 arriving at the Governor’s Mansion. This is part two 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 arrival of Gorbachev’s plane landing at the Minneapolis International Airport.
April 26, 1990 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Duluth resident and fisherman Russ Francisco about the declined interest of smelting along the North Shore rivers. Francisco explains what he sees and some of the reasons behind drop off.
January 30, 1990 - Lou Nanne, former North Stars hockey defenseman and general manager, details the chances that the NHL team would leave Minnesota. Nanne says without ticket sales and better facility conditions, the owners and team have no choice.
January 8, 1990 - Jules Perlt, former public address announcer at the University of Minnesota, reflects on Canadian-American football and wrestler Bronko Nagurski, both as a player and man. Perlt thinks Nagurski was the best player he ever saw on the field.
December 13, 1989 - On the 10 year anniversary, Ramsey County attorney Tom Foley reflects on the Al Quie kidnap attempt in 1979.