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 11, 2011 - Author and "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor speaks at the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries Dinner about writing, performing, and how libraries are a refuge from the outside world.
April 21, 2011 - Internationally renowned scholar Marcus Borg speaks about reclaiming the language of Christianity at the Westminster Town Hall Forum. He has written a number of books that re-examine the life of Jesus and take a fresh look at the bible. Guest: Marcus Borg: Professor emeritus at Oregon State University. Best-selling author of a number of books including "The Heart of Christianity" and "Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith."
April 15, 2011 - MPR Presents "Writing Minnesota," a special program highlighting Minnesota writers and authors. Program showcases some of the exciting literary work coming out of the state.
February 18, 2011 - A Prairie Home Companion" host and creator Garrison Keillor speaks to an audience at Concordia University in St. Paul about the challenges he's had to face as a writer and how his upbringing has helped him deal with them. Guest: Garrison Keillor, Host and creator of "A Prairie Home Companion." Newspaper columnist and author of a number of books including "Lake Wobegon Days" and "Life Among the Lutherans."
December 23, 2010 - Barack Obama signed a landmark healthcare overhaul into law back in March, but throughout the year the measure didn't appear to win the hearts and minds of Americans. Republicans seized on discomfort with the reforms to make significant gains in November's mid-term elections, and many of the Congressional winners have promised to push for repeal. A number of states are also fighting the law in courts. We discuss the reform, and the likelihood it will remain the law of the land. Guest: Dave Durenberger, former U.S. Senator.
November 26, 2010 - Writer Patricia Hampl presents an MPR-commissioned production of words and music, about the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Dan Chouinard is music director.
November 8, 2010 - On this Midday program, MPR’s Cathy Wurzer speaks with Supreme Court Justice Alan Page.
October 22, 2010 - On this Midday call-in program, former Vice President Walter Mondale joins MPR’s Gary Eichten to take questions about his new political memoir, "The Good Fight: A life in Liberal Politics." The book traces Mondale's career from a young Minnesota attorney general to Vice President. While personal, it's also the story of half a century of progressive politics.
October 21, 2010 - Best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith joined Garrison Keillor on stage at the Fitzgerald Theater to talk about literature -- and the life of a writer. McCall Smith's new book is called, "The Charming Quirks of Others."
October 15, 2010 - Playwright and humorist Kevin Kling, one of Minnesota's best-known storytellers, speaks at the Maplewood Library as part of the Club Book program. Along with several plays, Kling is the author of two collections of stories, "The Dog Says How" and "Holiday Inn." Club Book is a Twin Cities-area program that brings popular authors to communities around the metro area. It is a program of the Metropolitan Library Services Agency, coordinated by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.