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Historical Context for April 28, 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 April 28, 1980

Argentine Bank System Shaken By Major Failures in Last Month; Takeover Last Friday Banking Crisis for Argentina Dynamic Economic Activity Purchase of Wineries

By Juan de Onis Special To the New York Times

BUENOS AIRES, April 26--Argentina's private banking system, which had undergone explosive growth since 1977, has been severely shaken by the bankruptcy of the country's two biggest commercial banks in the last month and the near-insolvency of many other banks and finance companies.

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The Earnings Tally For the First Period; Gains in the Oil Industry Hard Times for Tire Industry The Earnings Tally for the First Quarter Gain for Chemical Producers Softening Airline Demand

By Phillip H. Wiggins

First quarter earnings reports by the nation's major corporations indicate that producers of lumber, rubber and steel were caught in the downdraft created by the ailing automobile and housing industries. And only a couple of airlines were able to rise out of the red.

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61-DAY BOGOTA SIEGE ENDS WITH RELEASE OF REST OF HOSTAGES; American Diplomat Is Now in U.S. --Guerrillas Free 6 and Fly to Cuba With Remaining 12 Six Freed at Airport Siege in Bogota Ends as Guerrillas Fly With 12 Hostages to Havana Farewell Party in Embassy Envoy Reunited With Family Carter Expresses Gratitude

By Paul L. Montgomery Special To the New York Times

BOGOTA, Colombia, April 27--The two-month occupation of the Dominican Embassy here by urban guerrillas ended safely this morning when the terrorists flew with 12 of their hostages to Havana and released the rest.

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Farm Equipment Sales Falling; Sales Increase Was Predicted Farm Equipment Sales Are Declining Falling Crop Prices Cited Effect of Harvester Strike 'Change in Psychology'

By William Robbins Special To the New York Times

CHICAGO, April 27--The financial troubles of farmers, the result of rising costs, declining prices and a deepening credit squeeze accompanied by high interest rates, have spread to the showrooms of dealers in agricultural equipment and to the factories of their suppliers.

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IRAN DISPLAYS BODIES; Insists That 9 Died, Not 8 --Hostages Are Said to Leave Embassy Taken to Provincial Cities Iran Displays Bodies of Americans Killed in Raid, Insisting There Were 9 Scarves Worn Over Noses Sound of Planes in the Air

By John Kifner Special To the New York Times

TEHERAN, Iran, April 27--The charred bodies of the Americans killed in the abortive attempt to rescue the American hostages in Teheran were displayed to reporters today in the United States Embassy compound.

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U.S. Study Is Cautious On Chrysler; Company's Plan For Smaller Cars Called Uncertain Aimed at Small-Car Market Basic Agreement U.S. Study Is Cautious On Chrysler

By Reginald Stuart Special To the New York Times

DETROIT, April 27--The Department of Transportation, in a preliminary report assessing the Chrysler Corporation's prospects for the future, expressed cautious optimism over the company's plan to produce a new line of compact cars as the cornerstone for its return to financial health.

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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.