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Historical Context for February 23, 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[†]

Historical Events

1980Iran hostage crisis: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini states that Iran's parliament will decide the fate of the American embassy hostages.[†]

The Iran hostage crisis began on November 4, 1979, when 66 Americans, including diplomats and other civilian personnel, were taken hostage at the Embassy of the United States in Tehran, with 52 of them being held until January 20, 1981. The incident occurred after the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line stormed and occupied the building in the months following the Iranian Revolution. With support from Ruhollah Khomeini, who had led the Iranian Revolution and would eventually establish the present-day Islamic Republic of Iran, the hostage-takers demanded that the United States extradite Iranian king Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who had been granted asylum by the Carter administration for cancer treatment. Notable among the assailants were Hossein Dehghan, Mohammad Ali Jafari, and Mohammad Bagheri. The hostage crisis was a pivotal episode in the history of Iran–United States relations, formally sparking the ongoing Iran–United States conflict. After 444 days, it came to an end with the signing of the Algiers Accords between the Iranian and American governments; Iran's king had died in Cairo, Egypt, on July 27, 1980.

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Headlines from February 23, 1980

ENERGY A BIG FACTOR; Gasoline Increases 7.4% Costs for Region Advance Sharply Administration Reaction Somber January Rise in Price Index Steepest in Over Six Years White House Response Assessment by Schultze

By Steven Rattner Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 Pushed by the largest gasoline price rise in modern history the Consumer Price Index climbed 1.4 percent in January, the steepest monthly increase in more than six years, the Labor Department reported today.

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ANTI-SOVIET RIOTING BRINGS MARTIAL LAW TO AFGHAN CAPITAL; THREE PEOPLE REPORTED SLAIN Unrest Is Said to Spread to Other Cities as Tass Cites Regime's Effort to End 'Plundering' Three Large Street Protests Waving Islamic Banners 3 DIE IN AFGHANISTAN IN ANTI-SOVIET RIOTS Afghans Take to the Streets Karmal Appears Relaxed

By Unknown Author

NEW DELHI, Feb. 22 At least three persons were reported killed in antiSoviet rioting today in Kabul, the Afghan capital, and the Soviet-backed Government proclaimed martial law. AntiSoviet demonstrations were also said to have spread to several cities around the country.

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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.