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Historical Context for September 22, 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 22, 1980

WARHEAD OF MISSILE IS REPORTED AS SAFE; It Is Said to Remain in Secure Area Near Site of Friday Explosion Never Outside Security Control Titan Warhead Reported Safe by Military Sources 'Over Their Boiling Point'

By Wendell Rawls Jr. Special To the New York Times

DAMASCUS, Ark., Sept. 21--The Titan 2 missile that exploded in its silo near here early Friday morning was carrying a nuclear warhead that was ejected and that landed within the secured area of the missile site, well-placed military sources said today.

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REAGAN, ANDERSON DISAGREE IN DEBATE ON MOST KEY ISSUES; TEMPER REMARKS ON CARTER Both Candidates Offer Their Views on Abortions, Tax Cuts, MX, Energy and Government Reaching Out to National Audience Marked Contrast in Philosophies Anderson and Reagan Disagree on Many Issues, but Treat Carter Lightly Stands on Military Issues Strategies to Aid Cities Candidate's Religious Views Contrast in Final Statements Issue of Voter Backlash

By Hedrick Smith Special To the New York Times

BALTIMORE, Sept. 21--Ronald Reagan and John B. Anderson disagreed tonight on abortion, tax cuts, energy policy, the mobile missile and how to revitalize American cities in the first debate of the 1980 Presidential campaign but made only intermittent attacks on President Carter, who chose not to participate.

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Federal Study Finds Immigrants Are Not a Burden on Taxpayers; STUDY CITES BENEFIT OF U.S. IMMIGRANTS

By Robert Pear Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21--Immigrant families start earning more than nativeborn American families, on the average, within 10 years after arriving in the United States. Further, according to research done for a Federal study commission, from the time of their arrival, they contribute more in taxes than they take in public services.

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IRAQ ASSERTS IT SANK 8 IRANIAN GUNBOATS, SHOT DOWN FIGHTER; Border Fighting is Said to Increase Around Oil Center at Abadan --Khomeini Has Briefing Iranian Jets Strafe Iraqi Positions Abadan Airport Closed Iraq Says it Sank 8 Iranian Boats, Downed One Jet

By John Kifner Special To the New York Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 21--Iraq said today that its forces had shot down an Iranian F-4 Phantom jet fighter and sunk eight Iranian gunboats in a day of increased fighting along the two nations' 270-mile border.

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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.