Midday, the longest running MPR news program, began as an extension of a daily half hour noon newscast called “Midday Report.” In September 1971 it expanded into various longer iterations, running weekdays, as well as encompassing some weekend programming. During this period, it was described as: “A program of news and information, a calendar of the day’s cultural events and the environmental report.” In January 1972 the name changed to Midday, and a month later it was described as: “A program of news, consumer and environmental information, discussion of public issues, and reports by the MPR and NPR news staffs."
Separate MPR public affairs programming were featured, such as Spectrum, Sportfolio, MPR Special, Insight, Weekend, Forum, and MPR’s Mainstreet Radio, among others. Local programming was also featured, including Westminster Town Hall Forum, Carlson Lecture Series, Minnesota Meeting, Minnesota Press Club, and Mondale Policy Forum. National outside programming included Options, Horizons, Communique, National Press Club, Chappaqua Lecture, Ford Hall Forum, Commonwealth Club, among others; and interview shows from the likes of Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley and Nancy Fushan.
As the years progressed, the “Interview” and “Call-in” would become a regular format for Midday. Beginning in the mid-1970’s until 1992, Midday was hosted by Bob Potter, after which, Gary Eichten became the permanent host. Many guest hosts also participated over the years. During the Eichten era, Midday became a daily two-hour program staple, running from 11AM-1PM. Midday ended its run in January 2012, when long-time host Eichten retired.
June 25, 1975 - James Reston, poet and former director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, speaks about the poetry of Mao Tse Tung.
June 29, 1975 - Poet Robert Bly reads his poems and the works of others in a talk given at Saint John's University Forum. Bly also gives his viewpoints on life and his philosophical impressions.
July 1, 1975 - Alexander Solzhenitsyn, exiled Soviet author, makes his first major public address in the United States at a banquet in his honor given by the AFL-CIO. Solzhenitsyn ‘s address was titled “Words of Warning to the Western World (aka America: You Must Think About The World).” Speech was translated, after a brief initial technical issue.
July 15, 1975 - Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaking at the Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, followed by a question and answer period. Speech was titled "The Moral Foundations of Foreign Policy". Event sponsored by the Upper Midwest Council. Opening remarks and introduction by Senator Hubert Humphrey and Governor Wendell Anderson. Outside protests and an inside heckler can be heard occasionally throughout recording.
July 16, 1975 - Report of the centennial of the cities of Fargo and Moorhead, with various sounds and interviews from the celebration. Program includes fiddlers contest, discussion on values of the past, and contents of a time capsule made for the bi-centennial.
July 16, 1975 - Press conference of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger held at the Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington on July 15th, 1975. Meeting with media was preceded by a speech Kissinger gave, titled “The Moral Foundations of Foreign Policy.”
July 22, 1975 - MPR’s Martin Bunzl prepares this report on the conflict that exists between the Black community and the Minneapolis Police Department. Included are various resident commentary from a Minnesota Human Rights Commission hearing and interviews with Jack Jensen, Minneapolis chief of police; Al Hofstede, mayor of Minneapolis; August Nimtz, professor of political science at University of Minnesota; and Earl Craig, director of the Minneapolis Urban League.
July 28, 1975 - MPR reporter Kevin McKiernan put together this program with the hope of presenting a clearer picture of the shootout/ disturbance at Oglala, South Dakota, which left two FBI agents and an Indian dead of gunshot wounds. This is an in depth look back about a month after the Oglala shootings. Kevin McKiernan interviews different factions including reservation residents, FBI spokesman Clay Brady, Indian leaders, S.D. Governor Kneip, and S.D. Sen. James Abourezk.
August 1, 1975 - St. Paul scientist Gary Hudson speaking on why we should step up exploration of outer space, stating that space exploration is in our future. Hudson says space could solve our population and energy problems if we exploit it properly. He predicts outer space could be our next industrial park, but says this cannot happen unless private corporations take the lead in exploring space. He is very critical of the government's space program, saying it's far too expensive and far too bureaucratic to be effective.
August 4, 1975 - Dr. Allen Sullivan, professor of psycho-educational studies at the University of Minnesota, talks with MPR reporter Martin Bunzl about the effects of racism within educational system on minority children. Sullivan describes numerous examples of systematic bias, and entrenched cultural attitudes towards black children.