What was going on when I was born?

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Historical Context for June 2, 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

1980Fabrizio Moretti, Brazilian-American drummer[†]

Fabrizio Moretti also known as Fab, is a Brazilian-American musician and visual artist best known as the drummer for American rock band The Strokes, with whom he has released six studio albums since 2001. A collaborative artist, he has been part of a series of groups since the mid-2000s, most notably the Brazilian-American band Little Joy, which released one album in 2008, and the experimental pop collective Machinegum, which he has led since 2018. Throughout his career, Moretti has worked on a variety of art projects which span the mediums of drawing, sculpture, and installation and performance art.

1980Bobby Simmons, American basketball player[†]

Bobby Simmons is an American former professional basketball player. During his NBA career, Simmons played for five NBA teams between 2001 and 2012. He won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2005.

1980Richard Skuse, English rugby player[†]

WEBSITE: https://ruggger3.wixsite.com/mrricharddavidskusel

1980Abby Wambach, American soccer player and coach[†]

Mary Abigail Wambach is an American retired soccer player, coach, and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. A six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a regular on the U.S. women's national soccer team from 2003 to 2015, earning her first cap in 2001. As a forward, she currently stands as the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and is second in international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals, behind Canadian Christine Sinclair. Wambach was awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first American woman to win the award in 10 years. She was included on the 2015 Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world.

1980Tomasz Wróblewski, Polish bass player and songwriter[†]

Tomasz Wróblewski, stage name Orion, is a Polish musician, best known as the bassist for the extreme metal band Behemoth. Since 1997, he also is a member of symphonic black metal band Vesania as a lead vocalist and guitarist.

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Headlines from June 2, 1980

Cubans Riot at Camp in Arkansas; Police, Refugees and Civilian Hurt; Cubans Riot at Refugee Relocation Camp in Arkansas Four Policemen Hurt Processing Center Closed Governor Complains of Security Cuban Influx Virtually Halted

By Unknown Author

FORT CHAFFEE, Ark., June 1 Rioting broke out in the Fort Chaffee refugee relocation center this evening as about 200 Cubans, angered by delays in the processing of their cases, pelted the police and soldiers with stones after bursting out the front gate. Between 15 and 20 law enforcement officers, at least one civilian

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Investigation of Jordan Shooting: Pressure, Conflict and Few Facts; 'The Why or the Who' The Jordan Inquiry: Pressure, Conflict and Few Facts Racial Motive Theory One Fund-Raiser a Year Jordan Said to Leave Alone Two Auditors in Motel Ambulance Arrives at 2:30 A.M. Motorcyclist Is Stopped Other Entrances Inside Black Leaders Arrive Distressed by Civiletti Comment

By Special to The New York Times

FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 1 At 2:05 A.M. Thursday, in a parking lot at the Marriott Inn here, Vernon E. Jordan Jr., perhaps the nation's best known civil rights leader, was shot in the back and severely wounded by an unknown assailant.

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KENNEDY BARS TALK OFFERED BY CARTER ON PARTY PLATFORM; Two Democrats Clash Tomorrow in Final Primaries of Year-- Eight States Are Voting Last-Minute Campaigning Advertisements vs. Staff Kennedy Rejects Carter's Proposal to Discuss Democratic Platform

By Adam Clymer

Senator Edward M. Kennedy yesterday brushed aside President Carter's olive branch, saying he did not think the two of them should sit down after tomorrow's final primaries and try to settle the platform for the Democratic National Convention.

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Leningrad, Despite Newcomers, Still Retains Its Air of Elegance; Leningrad, Despite Newcomers, Retains Its Elegance English Rendition of Song Taganka Is the Experimenter Stress on 'Social Activism' Historical Buildings Refurbished Foreign Consulates Feel Isolated

By Anthony Austin Special To the New York Times

LENINGRAD Past the handsome buildings of this city's Czarist heritage flowed a crowd that belied the adage that people in Leningrad are more relaxed, more courteous and better dressed than elsewhere in the Soviet Union. They were just as plain and shabby as the crowds in Moscow, and they jostled just as much.

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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.