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.
October 27, 2003 - President Bush said Monday that U.S. progress in Iraq is making insurgents more "desperate" and spurring attacks such as the bombings at the international Red Cross headquarters and three police stations across Baghdad that killed dozens of people. We discuss the post-war situation in Iraq with J. Brian Atwood, dean of the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He was head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for several years.
October 20, 2003 - A Twin Cities speech by Al Franken, author of "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right". He spoke at an event sponsored by Ruminator Books in St. Paul.
October 16, 2003 - On this Midday, author and former columnist Jim Klobuchar talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about his adventures, life in Minnesota, and his recent books.
October 13, 2003 - Best-selling author and internationally known Rabbi Harold Kushner talks with Gary Eichten about his new book The Lord is my Shepherd. He recently wrote Living a Life that Matters and is best known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
October 1, 2003 - In a live broadcast from Collegeville, Minnesota Public Radio President Bill Kling talks with Gary Eichten about MPR. He also takes listener questions and comments.
September 18, 2003 - On his 80th birthday, former Minnesota Governor Al Quie joins MPR Midday host Gary Eichten to discuss his life and political career. Quie was governor from 1979 through 1982. Quie, a Republican, represented southeastern Minnesota in Congress for 21 years, and served one term in the Minnesota Senate.
September 12, 2003 - Johnny Cash, "The Man in Black" who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line and A Boy Named Sue, died Friday. He was 71. Featured guests include: Public Radio's American Routes host Nick Spitzer; Ken Hippler, host of the country music show, Good and Country, on KFAI.
September 4, 2003 - Humorist Jim Hightower is in the MPR studios to talk with guest-host Mike Edgerly. Hightower speaks Thursday night at a Ruminator Books event at Macalester College. Texas humorist and author Jim Hightower, author of "Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen our Country and It's Time to Take it Back".
August 21, 2003 - A live broadcast from the Minnesota State Fair. Gary talks with meteorologist and climatologist Mark Seeley about Minnesota weather phenomena. Seeley also presents the answers to his weather quiz.
August 21, 2003 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Amy Klobuchar, Hennepin County District Attorney, and Susan Gaertner, Ramsey County District Attorney, at the Minnesota State Fair. Topics include current events and major issues of fighting and preventing crime in the Twin Cities and Minnesota. Klobuchar and Gaertner also answer audience questions.