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Historical Context for December 3, 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

1980Anna Chlumsky, American actress[†]

Anna Maria Chlumsky is an American actress. She began acting as a child, and first became known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the film My Girl (1991) and its sequel, My Girl 2. Following her early roles, she went on hiatus from 1999 to 2005 to attend college. Chlumsky returned to acting with roles in several independent films, including Blood Car (2007) and In the Loop (2009). She portrayed Amy Brookheimer on the HBO television series Veep (2012–2019), which earned her six nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, among other accolades.

1980Jenna Dewan, American actress and dancer[†]

Jenna Lee Dewan is an American actress and dancer. She started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, and later worked with artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Missy Elliott. She is known for her role as Nora Clark in the 2006 film Step Up. She has also starred on the short-lived NBC series The Playboy Club and had a recurring role on the FX series American Horror Story: Asylum. She portrayed Freya Beauchamp on the Lifetime series Witches of East End, Lucy Lane in The CW series Supergirl and Superman & Lois, and Joanna in Soundtrack on Netflix. Dewan has hosted the reality television shows World of Dance and Flirty Dancing and served as a judge on Come Dance with Me. She currently stars as Bailey Nolan on ABC's The Rookie. She also had a recurring role on the FOX medical drama The Resident.

1980Zlata Filipović, Bosnian-Irish diarist[†]

Zlata Filipović is a Bosnian-Irish diarist. She kept a diary from 1991 to 1993 when she was a child living in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War, later published as a book.

Notable Deaths

1980Oswald Mosley, English lieutenant, fascist, and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (born 1896)[†]

Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, was a British aristocrat and politician who rose to fame during the 1920s and 1930s when he, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics, turned to fascism. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Harrow from 1918 to 1924 and for Smethwick from 1926 to 1931. He founded the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in 1932 and led it until its forced disbandment in 1940.

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Headlines from December 3, 1980

POLISH COMMUNISTS OUST 4 KEY LEADERS; GENERAL GETS POST; OLD GUARD SET BACK Kania Seen Strengthened in the Crisis--Moczar Makes a Comeback Moczar Guided Anti-Zionist Drive Conservatives Are Dismissed Party in Poland Ousts 4 Leaders; Moczar Returns Moczar Takes a Liberal Tack

By John Darnton Special To the New York Times

WARSAW, Dec. 2--Meeting in an atmosphere of crisis, the Communist Party's Central Committee dismissed four members of the ruling Politburo today and returned a former Interior Minister to that body.

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Jean Harris Jury Told of Clothing Found 'Slashed'; Belonged to the Defendant in Tarnower Slaying Defense Calls It 'Accident' Two Diaries Missing Jean Harris Jury Told of Clothing Found 'Slashed' Mrs. Tryforos Identified Played a Domestic Role

By James Feron Special To the New York Times

WHITE PLAINS, Dec. 2--Jean S. Harris returned from a trip to the Caribbean with Dr. Herman Tarnower in March 1979 --a year before the doctor was fatally shot--to find the clothing she kept in his house "slashed and ripped," according to testimony today in Westchester County Court.

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4 REPORTED CHOSEN AS THE INNER CIRCLE OF REAGAN CABINET; Haig at State Dept.; Weinberger at Defense; Wriston at Treasury; Smith, Attorney General Caution on Clearances Casey and Stockman Listed 4 REPORTED CHOSEN FOR REAGAN CABINET Possible Agriculture Choice Blend of Old and New

By Hedrick Smith Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2--Presidentelect Ronald Reagan, drawing on both the Eastern establishment and his West Coast political associates, has decided on the four men he wants to form the inner ring of his Cabinet, well-placed Republican sources said today.

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Vance, Looking Back, Lauds Pact On Arms and Retorts to Brzezinski; Excessive Weight on 'Bluff' VANCE LAUDS PACT; REBUTS BRZEZINSKI Vance Sought to Avert Rescue Raid 'A Wider Explosion' Feared Vance a Key Figure in Arms Pact Favors Changes in Elections

By Bernard Gwertzman

Former Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance said yesterday that it would be a major mistake for the Reagan administration to seek more than "cosmetic" changes in the pending strategic arms treaty or to try to link a new arms control accord to Soviet behavior.

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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.