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.
September 11, 2001 - Paul Wellstone is interviewed by Gary Eichten about the September 11th terrorist attacks
September 3, 2001 - Gary Eichten broadcasts live from the Minnesota State Fair. Two of Minnesota's top crime-fighters: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner.
September 3, 2001 - Howard Sinker, MPR sports analyst, joins Gary Eichten for his annual State Fair show about sports.
August 14, 2001 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Walter Mondale, former Vice President, U.S. senator and ambassador, about the U.S. role in the world. Topics include the Middle East, globalization, and partnerships. Mondale also answers listener questions.
August 13, 2001 - Gary Eichten interviews the leading candidates for mayor of Minneapolis. Lisa McDonald, DFL candidate and Sharon Sayles Belton, Incumbent DFL Mayor.
August 13, 2001 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews the leading candidates for mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Rybak, DFL candidate; and Mark Stenglein, Independent candidate. Issues discussed are housing crisis, environment, city budget, property taxes, and police.
August 10, 2001 - The August edition of Voices of Minnesota featuring retiring President of the Minnesota Humanities Commission Cheryl Dickson and two musicians, jazz saxophonist Percy Hughes and Katie McMahon, who sings and plays traditional Irish music.
August 3, 2001 - Local author James Chiles talks about his new book, Inviting Disaster: Lessons from the Edge of Technology.
July 20, 2001 - A favorite speech for the summer by author Rebecca Wells. Wells is the author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Little Altars Everywhere. She visited the Twin Series during the 2000-2001 season of the Hennepin County Library Foundation's Pen Pals Lecture Series.
July 18, 2001 - Joe Dowling, Guthrie Theater artistic director, sits in the studio with Gary Eichten to talk about the future of the venue and answer questions from MPR listeners.