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What was going on when I was born?

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Historical Context for May 4, 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[†]

Notable Births

1980Andrew Raycroft, Canadian ice hockey player[†]

Andrew Joseph Ernest Raycroft is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and current media personality. Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL) 135th overall in 1998, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy with the club in 2004 as rookie of the year. Raycroft has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars, Hockey Milano Rossoblu and IF Björklöven.

Notable Deaths

1980Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav field marshal and politician, 1st President of Yugoslavia (born 1892)[†]

Josip Broz, commonly known as Tito, was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who served in various positions of national leadership from 1943 until his death in 1980. During World War II, he led the Yugoslav Partisans, often regarded as the most effective resistance movement in German-occupied Europe. Following Yugoslavia's liberation in 1945, he served as its prime minister from 1945 to 1963, and president from 1953 until his death in 1980. The political ideology and policies promulgated by Tito are known as Titoism.

1980Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Scottish pianist and composer (born 1920)[†]

Joseph Turner Henderson, known as Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, was a Scottish pianist, composer and recording artist who became well-known in Britain in the 1950s, with his entertainment career continuing into the 1960s and 1970s.

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Headlines from May 4, 1980

Reagan Heads for Narrow Victory Over Bush in Texas Primary Vote; Carter Wins the Balloting While Kennedy Hopes for Share in Caucuses The Vote Tally Strong Showing in Houston REAGAN HOLDS EDGE IN PRIMARY IN TEXAS A Suggestion That Bush Quit A Tangle With Local Races Only G.O.P. Vote Is Binding Democrats' Expenditures Low

By Adam Clymer Special To the New York Times

AUSTIN, Tex., Sunday, May 4--Ronald Reagan apparently won a slim popular-vote victory over George Bush yesterday in the Republican Presidential primary in Texas. But despite Mr. Bush's unexpectedly strong race, Mr. Reagan also won at least 50 of the state's 80 national convention delegates and left his rival further than ever behind in the contest for the nomination.

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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.