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Historical Context for March 10, 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 March 10, 1980

Reporter's Notebook: For Nkomo, End of a Dream; Reporter's Notebook: A Dream Of Victory Is Ended for Nkomo Cabinet Announcement Canceled Child's Murder Recalled

By John F. Burns Special To the New York Times

SALISBURY, Rhodesia, March 9 None of the principal figures in the Rhodesian dispute wears his feelings more patently than Joshua Nkomo. In happy times, as when he returned here two months ago after years in exile, his is the broadest smile. At times of reverse, there is no hiding his melancholy.

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Bogota Terrorists in Profile: They Fit No Political Mold; Rebels Told of Legal Problems A Profile of the Rebels in Bogota: They Don't Fit the Usual Molds Communist May Play Key Role

By Paul L. Montgomery Special To the New York Times

BOGOTA, Colombia, March 9--Although the hooded terrorists of the M-19 group have controlled the Dominican Republic's Embassy and its hostages for 11 days, issuing manifestoes and giving telephone interviews, the composition and ideology of the urban guerrillas remain as much a mystery as when they first appeared in Colombia in 1974.

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District of Columbia Cutting Jobs, Adding Tax and Blaming Congress; Seeks Change by Congress No Fiscal Autonomy District of Columbia Cuts Jobs and Plans Tax Rises To Seek Higher Payment

By Ben A. Franklin Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, March 9 In a crisis compounded by the fact that the Federal Government owns 55 percent of its real estate and pays no taxes, the District of Columbia is joining the growing list of American cities forced to take strong fiscal medicine to stay solvent.

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Bedford Hills Is Watchful As 4-Murder Trial Nears; Alarm for Two Months Flurry of Pistol Applications Bedford Hills Still Cautious As Trial Nears in 4 Murders One Victim a Professor

By Charlotte Evans Special To the New York Times

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., March 9 On Bisbee Lane, the police say, a real-estate agency is keeping an eye on the pale green ranch house in which Charles and Helen Frankel were murdered 10 months ago. The house has been sold, but the new owner has not yet moved in.

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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.