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Historical Context for November 21, 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 November 21, 1980

38 Cuban Women in Jails As U.S. Examines Status; 'Problem' With an Inmate Hearing Is Scheduled 38 Cuban Women Waiting In Jails for Ruling on Status Cuba Bars Return

By Paul L. Montgomery

While most of the 125,100 Cubans who have arrived in the United States since April are now free from the refugee camps and trying to start new lives, 38 of them -- all young women -- are still incarcerated in Manhattan and Brooklyn, becalmed in the intricacies of Immigration and Naturalization Service procedures.

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REAGAN AIDES URGE RENT-CONTROL CITIES LOSE ALL U.S. GRANTS; CURBS CALLED MAJOR FAILURE Urban Affairs Task Force Calls for More Leeway for Businesses and Local Governments 'Failure' From Coast to Coast Criticism From Other Aides Reagan Aides Urge Ban on Grants For Cities That Have Rent Control

By David E. Rosenbaum Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- A group of advisers to President-elect Ronald Reagan have recommended unanimously that Federal grants be withheld from cities that have rent-control laws.

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Citicorp Insists It Will Move Card Unit to S. Dakota; Citicorp Affirms Move to S. Dakota Meeting Held With Bankers A Pledge to South Dakota No Direct Answer on Job Loss

By Richard J. Meislin Special To the New York Times

ALBANY, Nov. 20 -- Citicorp said today that it planned "to move its basic bank card business from Huntington, L.I., to South Dakota" if it received the necessary Federal approvals. It said it would do so even if the Legislature voted, as is expected, for a bill to eliminate New York State's limits on credit card interest rates.

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Carters Receive Reagans in Visit To White House; Social Call Symbolizes the Transition to a New Era 'I Was Right on Time' Gesture of Informality The Carters Meet With the Reagans at White House

By Terence Smith Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- A minute ahead of schedule, at 1:59 P.M., Ronald and Nancy Reagan arrived at the back door of the White House today for a social call and a visit to the building that will serve as home and office after Jan. 20.

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U.S. SAYS IT ACCEPTS IRAN HOSTAGE TERMS AS BASIS FOR ACCORD; DETAILS STILL NOT AGREED ON Informal Exchange Believed to Be Under Way With Teheran in an Effort to Resolve Crisis Iran's Speaker Called Correct Initial Confusion by Muskie U.S. CONFIRMS TERMS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The United States confirmed today that it had accepted in principle Iran's four conditions for the release of the 52 American hostages "as a basis for resolution of the crisis."

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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.