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Historical Context for February 14, 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 14, 1980

Japan Revives Iranian Project; Japan Revives Project Long Stalled in Iran Violence on Work Site

By Henry Scott Stokes Special To the New York Times

TOKYO, Feb. 13--Construction of a $3 billion petrochemical project on the Persian Gulf, stymied by political turmoil in Iran and the takeover of the United States Embassy there, is about to resume after months of tense bargaining among Tokyo, Teheran and Washington, and the adoption of the undertaking as a national project of the Japanese Government.

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BANI-SADR CITES PLAN; Says Khomeini Approves a Secret Formula for the Hostages' Release Council Aide Favors Early Solution Bani-Sadr Says Khomeini Backs Plan to Free American Hostages Linkage of Issues Denied Talks With Militants Described Ghotbzadeh Meets Greek Aide

By Unknown Author

TEHERAN, Iran, Feb. 13--President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr said today that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had approved a secret plan for the release of the 50 Americans held hostage since Nov. 4.

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Figuring Tax Liability: Most Turn to the Tables; Some Must Use Schedule TC Calculating the Tax Liability A Minimum Tax in Two Forms Rules for Income Averaging Who Benefits From Procedure

By Deborah Rankin

Computing your tax liability culminates all the work you have done so far on your tax return. The tax bite for many people may be less this year than in 1978, or possibly the same, because of the increased personal exemption and the widening of the tax brackets.

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'SOME POSITIVE SIGNS'; At News Session, He Hints Approval of 'Carefully Defined' Inquiry Key Element in Proposals Carter Backs Commission on Iran As Step Toward Freeing Hostages Discussions Since Mid-November Annoyance With Kennedy

By Hedrick Smith Special To the New York Times

Washington, Feb. 13--President Carter tonight publicly signaled for the first time his approval of a "carefully defined" international commission of inquiry into Iranian grievances as a step toward freeing the American hostages held in Teheran since Nov. 4.

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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.