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Historical Context for February 27, 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 27, 1980

Once-Ever Dishes, Part II; Once-in-a Lifetime Dishes for the Ambitious Cook Quenelles de Brochet (Quenelles of pike) Sauce Champagne (Champagne sauce) Fumet de Poisson (Fish broth) Bar Raye Farci Tout Paris (Stuffed striped bass with two sauces) Sauce Americaine (Lobster and tomato sauce) Mousse de Sole (Sole mousse) Shaping Quenelles Preparing Stuffed Striped Bass

By Craig Claiborne

WE were cataloguing last week a list of dishes of notable--even extraordinary--character that, for one reason or another, a highly skilled and ambitious home cook would probably undertake only once in a lifetime.

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House-Senate Conferees Clear 'Windfall' Tax Bill

By Unknown Author

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI)-- Members of a House-Senate conference committee agreed today on a compromise $227.3 billion tax on the "windfall" profits of oil companies that would provide $136 billion for individual and business tax cuts.

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Senator Williams's Associate Tied To Formation of Mining Ventures; New Abscam Links Shown An Associate of Williams Is Linked to Mine Ventures Ventures That Failed Linked to Yacht Meeting

By Diane Henry Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--In the same month that Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr. reportedly told undercover Federal agents that he could use his influence to help win government contracts for a titanium mining venture, one of his close associates formed three mining corporations, according to law enforcement authorities and sources close to the investigation.

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REAGAN EASILY DEFEATS BUSH AND BAKER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; CARTER VICTOR OVER KENNEDY; CONCESSION BY TEXAN Reagan, Under Pressure of Conservatives, Ousts His Campaign Chief Reagan Ousts Sears The Final Returns Reagan and Carter Win New Hampshire Primary Powell Sees 'Big Victory'

By Adam Clymer Special To the New York Times

CONCORD, N.H., Wednesday, Feb. 27 --Ronald Reagan won a landslide victory over George Bush in the New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary yesterday, while President Carter beat Senator Edward M. Kennedy solidly in the Democratic race.

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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.