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Historical Context for October 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[†]

Notable Births

1980Paúl Ambrosi, Ecuadorian footballer[†]

Vicente Paúl Ambrosi Zambrano, commonly known as Paúl Ambrosi, is an Ecuadorian former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He spent the vast majority of his professional career at LDU Quito.

1980Amjad Khan, Danish-English cricketer[†]

Amjad Khan is an international cricketer and barrister. Born in Denmark, he represents the country of his birth in international cricket, while also playing a single Test and a Twenty20 International for England in 2009. In a county cricket career lasting over a decade, he played for Kent and Sussex.

1980Scott Kooistra, American football player[†]

Daniel Scott Kooistra [KOO-struh] is an American former professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at North Carolina State and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft. Kooistra was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.

1980Niels Lodberg, Danish footballer[†]

Niels Lodberg is a Danish former professional football player.

1980Terrence McGee, American football player[†]

Terrence Dewayne McGee is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist for the Buffalo Bills] of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern State Demons and was selected by the Bills in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. During his career, McGee was considered a versatile threat for his kick return skills as well as his defensive play.

1980Ben Whishaw, English actor[†]

Benjamin John Whishaw is an English actor. He has received various accolades, including three British Academy Television Awards, two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

Historical Events

1980The 6th Congress of the Workers' Party ended, having anointed North Korean President Kim Il Sung's son Kim Jong Il as his successor.[†]

The 6th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was held in the February 8 House of Culture in Pyongyang, North Korea, from 10 to 14 October 1980. The congress is the highest organ of the party, and is stipulated to be held every four years. 3,062 delegates represented the party's membership; 117 foreign delegates attended the congress, without the right to speak. The congress saw the reappointment of Kim Il Sung as WPK General Secretary and the Presidium of the Politburo established as the highest organ of the party between congresses.

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Headlines from October 14, 1980

CUBA IS PARDONING JAILED AMERICANS; AT LEAST 33 NAMED; STATUS OF 5 OTHERS IN DOUBT Congressmen Negotiated Move-- It Is Seen as Part of an Effort by Havana to Cut Friction Congressmen Played Role Havana Announces It Is Pardoning Jailed Americans Some May Not Return

By Juan de Onis Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13--The Cuban Government, in what was described as a good-will gesture, announced here today a general pardon for all Americans now serving prison terms in Cuban jails.

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A Tireless Friend of the Dispossessed; Adolfo Perez Esquivel Man in the News The Latin American Laureate: Tireless Friend of Dispossessed Most Are Presumed Dead A Sculptor by Profession

By Edward Schumacher Special To the New York Times

BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 13--Adolfo Perez Esquivel stood patiently in sandals petting a white kitten and talking to Mexican television on the phone. It was one of dozens of phone calls that have poured in from all over the world since this ...

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Older Teachers Confront Stress In Changed Era; Average Teacher in 30's Stress Worries Leaders Stress Buffeting Older Teachers Who Survive Dips in Enrollment Effective but Unenthusiastic Slowed by Ulcers Student Rights at Issue

By Frances Cerra Special To the New York Times

FARMINGDALE, L.I, Oct. 13--The teacher parking lots empty quickly when the school day ends here, and administrators say it is hard to find teachers willing to stay late to coach teams or chaperone dances.

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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.