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.
August 24, 2000 - Republican U.S. Senator Rod Grams at the MPR booth at the State Fair answers listener questions about politics and the election this year.
August 22, 2000 - On his 80th birthday, a rebroadcast of the popular Pen Pals Lecture by science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. He's best known for The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451 and he is working on several new books.
August 15, 2000 - MPR’s Gary Eichten has phone conversation with former Vice President Walter Mondale, who is attending the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Program also includes clip of speech about party history that Mondale gave at convention.
August 14, 2000 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone speaks from the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Program also includes clips of speech Wellstone gave at "shadow convention.”
August 10, 2000 - A speech by Pulitzer Prize -winning author and historian Garry Wills. He spoke about how many Americans don't trust government and how we can understand this distrust through the study of history and historical myths. He spoke at the Midwestern Legislative Conference yesterday.
July 10, 2000 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president, who shares his experiences negotiating at Camp David in 1978. Later in program, Eichten interviews Michael Hudson, former president of the Middle East Studies Association and former director of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown. Hudson is currently professor of International Relations at Georgetown University.
June 30, 2000 - Songwriter, satirist, and math teacher Tom Lehrer speaks with Gary Eichten about his songs from the '50s and '60s and his career.
June 27, 2000 - The June edition of our Voices of Minnesota series. Today we feature gaelic harpist Ann Heymann, and Big Band leader Jerry Mayeron.
June 27, 2000 - On this Voices of Minnesota program, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles two Minnesota musicians - Ann Heymann, gaelic harpist; and Jerry Mayeron, big band leader.
June 27, 2000 - Suzanna Sherry, University of Minnesota constitutional law expert, talks about the key rulings and trends at the U.S. Supreme Court.