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Historical Context for July 14, 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 July 14, 1980

Embattled Fiat Plans Cutback; Faces Foreign Competition, Labor Unrest Auto Division Is the Main One Embattled Fiat Plans Cutback Faces Foreign Competition Sources of Steel Cited Labor Policy Toughened

By Henry Tanner Special To the New York Times

ROME, July 13--Giovanni and Umberto Agnelli, the brothers who run Fiat, Italy's largest private enterprise, have rarely been so embattled. Their company, more than most other European car makers, has been feeling the impact of the automobile industry's worldwide crisis.

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Jacobson, in Calls From Jail, Speaks of His 'Betrayal'; Buddy Jacobson Says a 'Betrayal' Led to His Arrest Talk Lasted About 20 Minutes 'Someone I Trusted' Voices Fears for Safety Gold Silent on David's Role Other Details Become Known

By Robert D. McFadden

Howard (Buddy) Jacobson asserted in an interview last night that a betrayal by "someone I had confided in, someone I trusted emphatically" had led to his capture in California last week after 39 days as a fugitive.

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FORD HINTS SUPPORT FOR BUSH OR BAKER TO RUN WITH REAGAN; SAYS HE WON'T BE CANDIDATE Ex-President Sees Benefits From a Broader Base for G.O.P. and 'Healing' of Differences Bush and Baker Win Ford Praise As Reagan Mate Laxalt Excludes None Mentioned

By Hedrick Smith Special To the New York Times

DETROIT, July 13--Former President Gerald R. Ford, asserting that "under no circumstances would I be the candidate for the Vice Presidency," today indirectly indicated his preference for George Bush or Senator Howard H. Baker Jr. of Tennessee as Ronald Reagan's running mate.

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Sioux Face Complex Decisions In Accepting $122 Million Award; Sioux Face Complex Decisions In Accepting $122 Million Award 'Not Unheard Of' Given Desolate Land Role of Mining Company

By Molly Ivins Special To the New York Times

RAPID CITY, S.D.--It took the Sioux Indians 58 years to win a claims settlement for the taking of the Black Hills by Congress in 1877, and while no one is predicting that it will take another 58 to settle the settlement, the obstacles are many and complicated.

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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.