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.
October 30, 1998 - Midday presents a special "Talk of Minnesota" program, presenting the views of MPR listeners on what they've heard from the candidates so far and what they want to hear in next debate or on the campaign trail in order to make their choice for governor.
October 30, 1998 - An MPR Special, presenting various reports on the major issues in this year's Gubernatorial campaign: taxes, education, crime, housing and agriculture. Program includes interviews and speech excerpts.
October 29, 1998 - Live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring historian Iris Chang, author of "The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II". She has titled her Minneapolis speech, "The Silence of Nanking: Human Rights and World Ethics".
October 29, 1998 - As part of our Meet the Candidates series, David Minge, 2nd District DFL congressman; and Craig Duehrin, his Republican challenger, discuss their campaigns and the issues. Topics include family values, tax cuts, and environment. Minge and Duehrin also answer listener questions.
October 28, 1998 - On this edition of MPR’s Voices of Minnesota series, a profile of two long-time Minnesota political activists; Geri Joseph of the DFL and Republican Kathleen Ridder. The two women have played a major role in shaping politics in Minnesota.
October 12, 1998 - Joe Nathan, Director of the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute's Center for School Change, provides analysis of the AAUW Gubernatorial forum on education. Program also has an interview with Ellen Delaney, the new Minnesota "Teacher of the Year."
October 12, 1998 - Gubernatorial forum on education, held at St. Thomas University, and sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), University of St. Thomas, and Minnesota Public Radio. Norm Coleman, Republican candidate; Skip Humphrey, DFL candidate; and Jesse Ventura, Reform candidate, participated in forum. Candidates spoke and answered questions from audience.
October 9, 1998 - Bob Meek, DFL commentator, and Nancy Longley, Republican commentator, provide analysis of the general election gubernatorial debate in Hibbing. Meek and Longley also answer listener questions.
October 9, 1998 - General election gubernatorial debate, sponsored by the Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Virginia and Cloquet Chamber of Commerce, and broadcast from Hibbing. Norm Coleman, Republican candidate; Skip Humphrey, DFL candidate; and Jesse Ventura, Reform candidate, participated in debate.
October 6, 1998 - Rod Grams, Minnesota Republican U.S. Senator, discusses his plan for phasing out social security with IRA style personal retirement accounts and welfare style federal safety net. The proposed bill is called “The Personal Security and Wealth and Retirement Act.” Grams also answers listener questions. Toward end of program, Virginia Reno, Director of Research for National Academy of Social Insurance, shares details on subject of Social Security reform.