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.
February 18, 2000 - Hear Nobel Prize Laureate and Northern Ireland political leader David Trimble's speech at a Minnesota International Center World Affairs breakfast forum in downtown Minneapolis earlier today.
February 14, 2000 - Continuation of a special extended edition of Midday, presenting excerpts from the inaugural program 50 Years: The Mondale Lectures on Public Service. Topic was on "Atlantic City Revisited: Mississippi Freedom Democrats and the Integration of the Democratic Party." Part 2 highlights a panel discussion with Lawrence Guyot, the Reverend Ed King, William Winter, and Taylor Branch, who share their thoughts and recollections of the 1964 Atlantic City Democratic National Convention.
February 14, 2000 - In this special extended edition of Midday, Walter Mondale, former vice-president, speaks at the inaugural program of 50 Years: The Mondale Lectures on Public Service. Mondale’s address was titled, "Atlantic City Revisited: Mississippi Freedom Democrats and the Integration of the Democratic Party,."
February 11, 2000 - Midday’s Gary Eichten spends the hour talking with Sharon Sayles Belton, mayor of Minneapolis, about what she sees as the state and health of the city. Topics include crime prevention and affordable housing, amongst others. Sayles Belton also answers listener questions.
January 31, 2000 - A Chautauqua Lecture by the new host of NPR's Talk of the Nation-- longtime Washington Post journalist Juan Williams. The speech and his book are titled Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary. The paperback goes on sale Tuesday. (Williams is also author of Eyes on the Prize.
January 28, 2000 - Howard Orenstein, Board President of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota, and Joe Waldron, Executive Director of the national gun rights organization Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms based out of Bellvue, Washington discuss President Clinton's call for handgun licensing in his State of the Union address.
January 21, 2000 - George Latimer, former St. Paul Mayor; Dick Goebel, of the Second Harvest St. Paul Food Bank and the Food First Coalition; and Bonnie Becker of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, discuss the topic of hunger in Minnesota.
January 20, 2000 - Jeff Kahn, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics; Dave Somers, professor in the department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota, discuss the question "What are GMO's?" (Genetically Modified Organisms).
January 5, 2000 - As Governor Ventura meets with legislative leaders about legislative priorities, MPR’s Gary Eichten asks for listener call-in commentary on what legislative priorities should be. Program includes an interview with Ventura from previous week, and a call from Steve Sviggum, Minnesota House majority leader. Program begins with news from MPR’s Greta Cunningham.
January 5, 2000 - On his 72nd birthday, Walter Mondale, former vice-president, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about America's role in the world, the year in politics, and the century ahead. Mondale also answers listener questions.