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Historical Context for July 18, 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 18, 1980

Summertime Guide to Gracious Dining in the Hamptons; Guide to Gracious Dining in the Hamptons New Places Palm at Huntting Inn The Maidstone Arms Davidson's The Lighthouse Carol's Wilford's Ohana Leif Hope's Laundry Old Standbys Gordon's The Lobster Inn Gosman's The Little Park The Bountiful Board Squires The American Hotel 1770 House Cato'S The Maidstone Arms, East Hampton 1770 House, East Hampton

By Florence Fabricant

DINING in the Hamptons has taken a sophisticated turn. An abundance of commendable restaurants, new or recycled, have opened this season with limited but ambitious menus and stylish cooking. Local farms and waters may be the sources of supply, but the inspiration is likely to be urban and French.

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Ford Advisers Reportedly Asked Wide Concessions From Reagan; Concern Over Reagan Powers Aides to Ford Reportedly Sought Wide Power Concessions Signs of Overnight Delay Surprise at Ford Interview Ford Authorizes Talks Time Element Cited

By Howell Raines Special To the New York Times

DETROIT, July 17--The effort to put former President Gerald R. Ford into the No. 2 spot on the Republican ticket with Ronald Reagan failed late last night after Mr. Ford's representatives put forth conditions that would have given Mr. Ford operational control of the executive branch of the Government, according to sources close to both sides of the discussions.

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A Critic Tours Met Museum's Quiet Pleasures; A Critic Tours Some of the Quieter Pleasures of the Met Museum Islamic Treasures Nimrud Ivories In 'Black Figure' Greece The Medieval Carver's Art Amusements in Porcelain Marble Nymph's Coiffure Small Lehman Marvels Boxer and Fortune Teller The New Vermeer Renaissance Windows 20th-Century Views Old China and Egypt

By Grace Glueck

WHAT, you've never laid eyes on the spinettino made in 1540 for Eleonora d'Este, Duchess of Urbino? Or the 15th-century Annunciation tapestry with the "sliding Christ child" image? Or the bronze Mosan aquamanile depicting Phyllis, beloved of Alexander the Great, perched on the back of Aristotle, who crawls on all fours? These are magnificent objects at the ...

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June Starts In Housing Up by 30%; But Income Rises Only 0.4%; Plant Use Down Warning on Inflation Given Housing Starts Up 30%; Income Shows Slow Rise Rise Less for Existing Homes Half the Average Increase

By Clyde H. Farnsworth Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, July 17--Following a precipitous decline earlier this year, builders began to construct new homes last month at an annual rate of almost 1.2 million units, up 30 percent over May, the Commerce Department reported 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.