He served in the United States Army for two years during World War II, participating in the Specialized Training Program.

He allied with the Liberal Caucus at a time when the legislature was still officially nonpartisan, and later identified as a Democrat when party affiliation became required of candidates.

He served on the House Agriculture, Appropriations, General Legislation & Veterans Affairs, Labor Relations, Local Government and Transportation committees, and on various subcommittees during his time in office.

[1] Eckstein was appointed by Governor Wendell Anderson to serve as an advisory board member of the Minnesota Experimental Authority, an early 1970s project initiated, promoted and studied by the Minnesota Legislature with the potential for creating "from scratch" an experimental city in the state that would serve as a national model and implement new urban planning and development concepts.

[4] Eckstein died on April 13, 2009, in Sleepy Eye, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery in New Ulm with full military honors.