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Historical Context for June 26, 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

1980Hamílton Hênio Ferreira Calheiros, Togolese footballer[†]

Hamílton Hênio Ferreira Calheiros, known simply as Hamílton, is a retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Brazil, he was a member, as a naturalized citizen, of the Togo national team.

1980Michael Jackson, English footballer[†]

Michael Jackson is an English former footballer who plays as a midfielder. He played in the Football League for both Cheltenham Town and Swansea City. He retired in Bishop's Cleeve in 2013.

1980Jason Schwartzman, American singer-songwriter, drummer, and actor[†]

Jason Schwartzman is an American actor, musician, and member of the Coppola family. Schwartzman made his film debut in Wes Anderson's 1998 film Rushmore, and has since appeared in six other Anderson films: The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023). He also has a co-writing credit on The Darjeeling Limited.

1980Chris Shelton, American baseball player[†]

Christopher Bob Shelton is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners over his 5-year major league career. Shelton is a cousin of former NFL quarterback Alex Smith.

1980Michael Vick, American football player[†]

Michael Dwayne Vick is an American college football coach and former player who is the head football coach at Norfolk State University. He played quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, where he became the league's first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and was the all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards at the time of his retirement. Vick played college football at Virginia Tech, where he won the Archie Griffin Award as a freshman, and was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL draft. During his six years with the Falcons, he was named to three Pro Bowls and led the team to two playoff runs, one division title, and an NFC Championship Game appearance.

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Headlines from June 26, 1980

British Concerns Barred From Key Saudi Projects; British Concerns Barred From Key Saudi Projects Televised Also in America

By Youssef M. Ibrahim Special To the New York Times

LONDON, June 25--Saudi Arabia,. reflecting continued bitterness over the showing of a television dramatization here of the 1977 execution of a Saudi princess, has directed international contractors working in Saudi Arabia not to award contracts to British companies for work in the two major industrial areas of Jubail and Yanbu.

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U.S.-Iranian Hostage Issue Fading As NATO Focuses on Afghanistan; The Less Said, the Better AFGHAN SITUATION OVERSHADOWS IRAN West German Vows Loyalty Assurances U.S. Can Lead U.S. Has Doubts on Moscow Trip

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

ANKARA, Turkey, June 25--The issue of the American hostages in Iran, a priority matter for the Atlantic allies as recently as a month ago, has virtually ceased to be even a subject of discussion at high-level gatherings such as the foreign ministers' meeting that opened here today.

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$36 BILLION TAX CUT IS URGED BY REAGAN AND G.O.P. LEADERS; Proposal Seeks 10% Reduction for Individuals and Deductions on Business Investments Early Confrontation Likely Tax Cut of $36 Billion Is Proposed By Reagan and G.O.P. Lawmakers Heller Also Urges Tax Cut Carter Proposals Expected

By Steven Rattner Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, June 25--Ronald Reagan, the expected Republican Presidential nominee, and his Congressional allies proposed $36 billion in tax cuts today.

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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.