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Historical Context for February 5, 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 February 5, 1980

Scene of Riot and Mayhem Yields 35 Bodies at Prison in New Mexico; Drug Use and Hatred Cited Prison, a Scene of Utter Destruction, Yields 35 Bodies Smashed Inch-Thick Glass TV Cameraman Describes Scene Helped Take Out 22 Bodies Uprising Called Spontaneous How Negotiations Were Held

By Wayne King Special To the New York Times

SANTA FE, N.M., Feb. 4--About 50 convicts who survived the rioting by prisoners at the New Mexico State Penitentiary stood shivering outside the stillsmoldering prison this morning, yelling about the horrors they had seen inside:

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G.M. Profit Down 58% In Quarter; 3-Month Decline Worst Since '70; Dividend Intact Dividend Rate Retained Three Factors Blamed G.M. Profit Off 58% in Quarter Lower Worldwide Sales

By Reginald Stuart Special To the New York Times

DETROIT, Feb. 4--The General Motors Corporation reported today that it had a 58 percent decline in earnings for the fourth quarter of 1979, its worst quarterly decline since the strike-affected fourth period of 1970. For the year, the company reported that its profits were down by 18 percent despite a 5 percent gain in revenues.

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Volcker Warns on Fed Attrition

By Unknown Author

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (AP)-- Membership in the Federal Reserve System is continuing to decline and could soon threaten the system's ability to manage money unless steps are taken, the chairman of the Federal Reserve System said today.

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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.