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 7, 2000 - Walter Mondale gives a speech titled "Democracy's Challenge: Balancing Personal Liberty and National Security." This is followed with speeches by James Kallstrom, Taylor Branch, Andrew Young and David Aaron.
June 7, 2000 - Walter Mondale, former vice-president, speaking at second program of 50 Years: The Mondale Lectures on Public Service. Mondale’s address was titled "Democracy's Challenge: Balancing Personal Liberty and National Security." Following Mondale’s speech, Walter Pincus, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, reflects on misuse of FBI file created on him. Final speaker is Andrew Young, civil rights worker and MLK aide, who addresses the proper use of intelligence agencies. Program begins with news from MPR’s Greta Cunningham.
May 25, 2000 - Governor Jesse Ventura stops by MPR to talk with host Midday host Gary Eichten and answer listener call-in questions. Topics include mining, NWA, governmental roles, education, hemp, and trade.
May 24, 2000 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Walter Mondale, former U.S. ambassador to Japan and former vice-president, on congressional bill that would allow China permit normal trade status. Following Mondale interview, David Foster, director of the NW quadrant of states for the United Steelworkers of America, shares his view on the bill and its impact.
May 24, 2000 - Randy Johnson, Hennepin County board chairman; and Rick Kruger, CEO of "is.com", discuss results of the first annual "Regional Opportunity Forecast.” Report was put together by a group of business, education and civic leaders called The Great North Alliance. Johnson and Kruger are members of the group, and answer listener questions. Program begins with news from MPR’s Greta Cunningham.
May 23, 2000 - A speech by Robert McChesney titled "Corporate Media and the Attack on Democracy." McChesney is a professor of Communications at the University of Illinois and author of Rich Media, Poor Democracy. He spoke at Hamline University in St. Paul.
May 17, 2000 - Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Thomas Friedman of the New York Times will be in the MPR studios to talk about the controversy over globalization. He is a native of St. Louis Park.
May 16, 2000 - Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. He spoke as part of the Pen Pals Lecture Series sponsored by the Hennepin County Library Foundation.
May 16, 2000 - Larry Redmond, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts lobbyist; and Joe Dowling, artistic director of the Guthrie Theater, discuss Governor Ventura’s veto on the legislative funding for the Guthrie and an arts center in Lanesboro. Redmond and Dowling also answer listener questions. Program begins with brief interview with John Wodele, Governor Ventura’s press secretary.
May 12, 2000 - A discussion about why people kill, and what pushes people over the edge to violence against strangers. Guests include Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Rhodes, author of Why They Kill: Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist.