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Historical Context for July 19, 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

1980Xavier Malisse, Belgian tennis player[†]

Xavier Malisse is a Belgian tennis coach and a former professional player. Born in the north-western Flemish city of Kortrijk and nicknamed X-Man, he is one of only two Belgian men to have been ranked in the top 20 of the ATP Tour, with a career-high singles ranking of world No. 19.

1980Giorgio Mondini, Italian race car driver[†]

Giorgio Mondini is an automobile racing driver from Geneva, Switzerland.

1980Chris Sullivan, American actor[†]

Chris Sullivan is an American actor and musician. He starred on Cinemax's The Knick as Tom Cleary, and on the NBC drama This Is Us as Toby Damon, for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Notable Deaths

1980Margaret Craven, American journalist and author (born 1901)[†]

Margaret Craven was an American writer.

1980Nihat Erim, Turkish jurist and politician, 13th Prime Minister of Turkey (born 1912)[†]

İsmail Nihat Erim was a Turkish politician and jurist. He served as the 13th prime minister of Turkey for almost 14 months after the 1971 Turkish military memorandum. He was assassinated by the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front in Istanbul in 1980.

1980Hans Morgenthau, German-American political scientist, philosopher, and academic (born 1904)[†]

Hans Joachim Morgenthau was a German-American jurist and political scientist who was one of the major 20th-century figures in the study of international relations. Morgenthau's works belong to the tradition of realism in international relations theory; he is usually considered among the most influential realists of the post-World War II period. Morgenthau made landmark contributions to international relations theory and the study of international law. His Politics Among Nations, first published in 1948, went through five editions during his lifetime and was widely adopted as a textbook in U.S. universities. While Morgenthau emphasized the centrality of power and "the national interest," the subtitle of Politics Among Nations—"the struggle for power and peace"—indicates his concern not only with the struggle for power but also with the ways in which it is limited by ethical and legal norms.

Historical Events

1980Opening of the Summer Olympics in Moscow.[†]

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad and officially branded as Moscow 1980, were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russia. The games were the first to be staged in an Eastern Bloc country, as well as the first Olympic Games and only Summer Olympics to be held in a Slavic language-speaking country. They were also the only Summer Olympic Games to be held in a self-proclaimed communist country until the 2008 Summer Olympics held in China. These were the final Olympic Games under the IOC Presidency of Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin before he was succeeded by Juan Antonio Samaranch shortly afterward.

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Headlines from July 19, 1980

Reagan Hails Republicans' Unity; Carter's Aides Defend Jobs Policy; G.O.P. Retains Brock as Chief Reagan Hails Republican Unity; Brock Is Re-elected as Chairman Reagan-Bush Appearance Plea by Mayor Young Democrats Attack Challenger Campaign Pace Quickening Carter Aides, Assailing Reagan, Insist President Has Frozen Some Hiring Rebuttal on Hiring Freeze Many Work 'Indirectly'

By Adam Clymer Special To the New York Timesby Steven R. Weisman Special To the New York Times

DETROIT, July 18--Ronald Reagan today spent his first full day of the general election campaign hailing Republican unity, which he will need for the next 110 days if he is to win the White House.

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Shah's Last Prime Minister Unhurt In Assassination Attempt in Paris; A Neighbor Is Slain SHAH'S LAST PREMIER IS UNHURT IN ATTACK French Have Been Tolerant New Group Reported in Iran

By Richard Eder Special To the New York Times

PARIS, July 18--Several armed men attempted to assassinate Shahpur Bakhtiar, the former Iranian Prime Minister, here today. Dr. Bakhtiar, a leading opponent of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's rule, was unhurt, but two other persons were killed and four wounded. Three gunmen were captured.

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SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON GROUND THAT DRAFT EXCLUDES WOMEN; REGISTRATION STAYED U.S. Seeks to Delay Order by Federal Court Panel Pending an Appeal Direct Appeal to Supreme Court Hopes to Go Forward Monday Draft Law Held Unconstitutional for Barring Women Evolution of Doctrine Political Implications Antidraft Organization Reacts

By Ben A. Franklin Special To the New York Times

PHILADELPHIA, July 18--A threejudge Federal court ruled here today that the Selective Service Act was unconstitutional because it excluded women.

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President of North Korea Drops A Condition for Talks With South; North Korean President Drops Precondition for Talks Talks Marked by Cordiality 17 Politicians Detained in Seoul

By Henry Scott Stokes Special To the New York Times

HAMHUNG, North Korea, July 18-- The President of North Korea said today during a conversation with a Brooklyn Congressman that his country no longer would insist that South Korea repeal a tough anti-Communist law as a condition for bilateral talks on humanitarian issues.

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GUILTY PLEA ENTERED IN 'VILLAGE' BOMBING; Cathlyn Wilkerson Could Be Given Probation or Up to 7 Years Reasons for Guilty Plea Guilty Plea Entered in 'Village' Town House Bombing 'My Real Priorities'

By Paul L. Montgomery

Cathlyn P. Wilkerson, expressing a wish to begin a new life after 10 years in the terrorist Weather Underground, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday to unlawful possession of dynamite in connection with a 1970 explosion that killed three persons and reduced her father's Greenwich Village town house to rubble.

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Polish Troops Supply Struck City

By Unknown Author

LUBLIN, Poland, July 18 (Reuters)-- Troops and policemen delivered food to Lublin today as strikers blockaded the railroad station and halted transport and other services.

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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.