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.
March 4, 1999 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Rod Grams, IR-Minnesota U.S. senator, from Washington D.C. Grams discusses issues facing congress now that Clinton impeachment trial is over. Topics include tax cuts, banking, healthcare, and education. Grams also answers listener questions.
March 4, 1999 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Paul Wellstone, DFL-Minnesota U.S. senator, from Washington D.C. Wellstone discusses issues facing congress now that Clinton impeachment trial is over. Topics include social security, Medicare, taxes, health care, education and more.
March 2, 1999 - Live coverage of Governor Jesse Ventura's State of the State address, with a preview by a panel of political analysts, and comments by House and Senate leaders, and MPR political editor Mike Mulcahy.
February 26, 1999 - Bill Morris, pollster of Decision Resources; Lee Ronning, executive director of 1000 Friends of Minnesota; and Karen Christofferson of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, discuss a new survey about what kind of house and community people want to live in. Morris, Ronning, and Christofferson also answer listener questions.
February 25, 1999 - Erik Paulsen, Republican representative of Eden Prairie; and Mark Asch, vice-president and State Issues Chairman of Common Cause- Minnesota, discuss the bill to have "Initiative and Referendudm" in Minnesota. Paulsen and Asch also answer listener questions.
February 23, 1999 - A presentation of the MPR documentary "The Positive Life," about teens with AIDS. Following documentary, Dr. Gary Remafedi; and Patricia Bassing, of the University of Minnesota Youth and Aids Project, answer listener quesetions.
February 23, 1999 - Doug Johnson, co-director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the U of M's Carlson School of Management; and Karl Egge, Director of the Entrepreneurship Program at Macalester College, discuss entrepreneurs and the characteristics of people who are successful in business. Program includes a rememberance of Curt Carlson. Johnson and Egge also answer listener questions.
February 22, 1999 - A "Talk of Minnesota" program, presenting the views of MPR listeners on how Governor Ventura is doing his job. A preview to the next hour's live broadcast from the National Press Club.
February 19, 1999 - Jody Williams, winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize discusses her international campaign to ban landmines. She is in the Twin Cities to speak at the annual Peace Prize Forum, held this year at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Williams also answers listener questions.
February 11, 1999 - Christine Jax, comissioner of the Department of Children Families and Learning; and DFL Representative Gene Pelowski explain and discuss the "Profiles of Learning."