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Historical Context for September 12, 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 September 12, 1980

Severe Drought Withers U.S. Crops In Blow to Farmers and Consumers; Arkansas Farmers Hurt Devastating Drought Grips Broad Area Vast, Jagged Arc Across East Iowa Escapes Losses Eight Bushels an Acre

By William Robbins Special To the New York Times

SCOTT, Ark., Sept. 11--A devastating drought, increasing daily in its severity, has withered crops in a broad band across much of the eastern half of the United States, bringing heavy losses to some farmers and rising prices for consumers.

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El Al's Bid to Correct Its Course; Israel's Carrier Seeks Profit via Streamlining Short-Notice Dismissals El Al's Bid to Correct Its Course Secret Mission, Disguised Planes Effects of Oil Price Rises Threat to Shut the Airline Down

By Special to The New York Times

LOD, Israel--El Al Israel Airlines, the Government-owned carrier, plagued by management and technical problems that have resulted in a drop in passenger traffic and mounting losses, has embarked on an ambitious program to put the company back on its feet.

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MILITARY IN TURKEY OUSTS GOVERNMENT OF PREMIER DEMIREL; THE PARLIANENT IS DISSOLVED Officers Picked to Run Ankara and Provinces--Washington Sees No Danger to Americans Coup Reportedly Bloodless Military Coup in Turkey Reported; No sign of Violence Political Parties Criticized Major Ally of U.S.

By Special to The New York TimesBy Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

ANKARA, Turkey, Friday, Sept. 11-- Leaders of the Turkish armed forces seized power here today, ousting the Government of Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel, dissolving the Parliament and taking rightist and leftist labor union leaders into custody, the state radio announced.

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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.