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Historical Context for June 5, 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 June 5, 1980

HOUSE AND SENATE VOTE DOWN OIL FEE BY LARGE MARGINS; VETO PROMISED BY PRESIDENT But Override Is Expected as Carter and Congress Leaders Lose Support of Democrats 'Because It Is Right' Oil Fee Voted Down In House and Senate 'Program Without a Constituency' Court Ruling Was Appealed Called 'a Spurious Tax' Postponed Debt-Ceiling Vote

By Martin Tolchin Special To the New York Timesmeasure Will Come Back For Action

WASHINGTON, June 4--In a stunning rebuke to both President Carter and the Congressional Democratic leadership, the House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly today to reject a fee on imported oil that Mr. Carter imposed in March.

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Jewish Settlers' Power Grows; Militant Israeli Settlers: A Growing Force Marry Approved of Bombings Settlers Are Mostly Young

By David K. Shipler Special To the New York Times

JERUSALEM, June 4--They are dreamers; they are coldly logical. They speak of violence, and of peace. Most importantly, the militant idealists who have established Jewish settlements on hilltops throughout the occupied Arab West Bank have established themselves as an influential force in Israel's political landscape.

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U.S. AND CHINA NEAR PACTS TO WIDEN TIES; Peking May Open New Consulates --Air Service Possible by Fall U.S. and China Near Accord on Expanding Consulates

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, June 4--The United States and China were reported today to be close to signing a series of agreements to significantly expand their already flourishing relationship. Among the steps contemplated by State Department officials is the opening of Chinese consulates in New York, Chicago and Honolulu.

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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.