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Historical Context for January 7, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people[†]

In 1980, the average yearly tuition was $738 for public universities and $3,225 for private universities. Today, these costs have risen to $9,750 and $35,248 respectively[†]

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Headlines from January 7, 1980

Scientific Atlanta's New Look; Chief Took Company Into Cable Systems Strategic Planning Stressed Market Segment Shifted Scientific Atlanta's Move Into New Areas 'You're a Dreamer' Consumer Market Avoided

By Peter J.schuyten Special To the New York Times

ATLANTA, Ga.--Those large, white, parabolic antenna dishes anchored so incongruously out on the lawn in front of Scientific Atlanta's headquarters are perhaps the most arrestingly appropriate symbol of the recent change that has taken place in the company's fortunes.

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DISPARITY REPORTED IN U.S. PROSECUTIONS; Survey Tells of Differing Criteria on Which Crimes to Attack Variations Are Wide Disparities in U.S. Prosecutions Reported in Justice Dept. Survey Guidelines Are Flexible Four New York Districts

By Robert Pear Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6--A survey of Federal prosecutors shows that most of them refuse to prosecute certain crimes because of secret written criteria that vary substantially from one prosecutor's office to another.

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'80 Albany Session Faces A Budget and an Election; Immediate Changes Doubted New Session in Albany Will Face Budget Problems and '80 Election Transportation Housing Casino Gambling Education Aid Property Tax Criminal Justice Abortion

By Richard J. Meislin Special To the New York Times

ALBANY, Jan. 6--Money, or the lack of it, and the politics of next fall's crucial election are expected to dominate the 203d session of the New York State Legislature, which begins Wednesday.

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I was wondering if anything interesting on the news was going on when I was born, and decided to create this website for fun. The purpose is to show people what was going on when they were born. With this website I've found out that it was a pretty slow news day on my birthday, but I bet it would feel cool to know a historical event happened on your birthday.

The data used in this project is provided by the New York Times API. They have by far the best API I was able to find, with articles dating back to the 1950s. There weren't any other major newspapers that had an API with close to as much data. The closest was the Guardian API, but theirs only went back to the 1990s. I decided to only use articles from the New York Times because their API was by far the best. This tool works if you have a birthday after the 1950s or so.

Some important dates in history I'd recommend looking up on this website are:

  • 9/11/2001: The September 11 Attacks happened on this day, the news articles from this date provide great context to the tragedy our nation suffered and the immediate response from the American people. The headlines capture the shock, confusion, and unity that emerged in the aftermath of this devastating event.
  • 7/20/1969: The historic Apollo 11 moon landing, when humans first set foot on another celestial body. The articles from this date showcase humanity's greatest achievement in space exploration and the culmination of the space race.
  • 11/9/1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The coverage provides fascinating insights into this pivotal moment in world history and the emotions of people as decades of division came to an end.
  • 1/20/2009: Barack Obama's inauguration as the first African American President of the United States, a watershed moment in American history that represented a major milestone in the ongoing journey toward racial equality.
  • 8/15/1969: The Woodstock Music Festival began, marking a defining moment in American counterculture and music history. The coverage captures the spirit of the era and the unprecedented gathering of young people.

These historical events are just a few examples of the fascinating moments in history you can explore through this tool. Whether you're interested in your own birthday, significant historical dates, or just curious about what was making headlines on any given day, this website offers a unique window into the past through the lens of contemporary news coverage.

You can read more on our blog.