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Historical Context for October 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 October 18, 1980

REAGAN, IN A SHIFT, AGREES TO A DEBATE WITH CARTER ALONE; LEAGUE INVITATION FOR OCT. 28 Details Are Not Firm on a Meeting --Strauss Says President Is Ready to Face His Rival 'Eager to Debate Carter' Reagan, in Shift, Agrees to Debate With Carter Alone Consensus Begins to Change

By Hedrick Smith Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17--Ronald Reagan, still leading narrowly in national polls but apparently fearing loss of momentum in the home stretch, reversed his stand today and agreed to a face-toface debate with President Carter that excludes John B. Anderson, the independent candidate.

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IRANIAN TELLS U.N. INVASION FROM IRAQ WAS INSPIRED BY U.S.; PREMIER ADDRESSES COUNCIL Tells Reporters He'll 'Never' Talk With Americans on Hostages --Diplomats Pessimistic Hostage Issue to Be Ignored Cease-Fire Ruled Out Iranian Premier Tells U.N. Invasion From Iraq Was Inspired by U.S. U.S. Denies Iranian Charge

By Bernard D. Nossiter Special To the New York Times

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., Oct. 17-- Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Rajai of Iran went before the Security Council tonight and charged that his nation was the victim of American-inspired aggression in the Persian Gulf.

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Legal Gambling Now $10 Billion Tristate Industry; Tristate Area Legal Gaming Is Now $10 Billion Industry 'People Like Variety' Jersey First in Numbers Illegal Gambling Prospers The Split In Jersey An Accepted 'Social Fallout' Casinos Make Swift Gains Track Revenue Declines The Breeding Reactor Lottery Leads In Connecticut

By Donald Janson

Legal gambling has become a $10 billion industry in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and the states, which are collecting $500 million a year in gambling revenues, are becoming more dependent on it to balance their budgets.

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G.N.P. Increases At Annual Rate Of 1% in Quarter; Banks Raising Loan Costs --Money Supply Soars Resillence 'Underestimated' Pressure for Higher Rates G.N.P. Up in 3d Quarter 1981 Seen as Uncertain Capacity Utilization Up Lifting of Curbs Called Factor

By Steven Rattner Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17--The gross national product rose at a 1 percent annual rate in the third quarter of this year after adjustment for inflation, the Commerce Department reported today.

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Disenchantment within Barrios Threatens Carter Drive in Texas; Influence is Spreading Carter Must Galvanize Barrios Disenchantment Within Barrios Threatens Carter Drive in Texas 'I'll Vote Democratic' Awakening Political Consciousness

By William K. Stevens Special To the New York Times

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 18--In the cozy frame houses, foliage-trimmed backyards, restaurants and blue-collar taverns of San Antonio's West Side, talk about the Presidential election does not seem to come up all that often.

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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.