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Historical Context for December 17, 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 December 17, 1980

A Christmas Feast; In an Island An Impromptu Christmas Feast Prepared in an Island Setting Some Dishes They Enjoyed Roast Small Chickens With Prosciutto and Rosemary Spicy Tomato Salad Moroccan-Style Spicy Orange Salad Moroccan-Style

By Craig Claiborne

THE Christmas feast that I remember best had nothing to do with sleigh bells, Yule logs, mistletoe or holly. It was on a Caribbean island where the only chimneys were not for a bearded St. Nicholas to scamper down but rather for baking loaves of French bread.

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REAGAN NAMES HAIG TO STATE DEPT. POST; BATTLE IS EXPECTED; DONOVAN IS PICKED FOR LABOR Retired General to Face Extensive Democratic Queries on Role in the Watergate Scandal Challenge to Haig Planned Reagan Confident on Confirmation Haig Ready for Any Queries Reagan Names Haig and Donovan to Posts in Cabinet Baker Expects Confirmation Broad Praise for Donovan

By Steven R. Weisman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16--Presidentelect Ronald Reagan today nominated Alexander M. Haig Jr., a retired Army general, as Secretary of State and Ray mond J. Donovan, a construction company executive, as Secretary of Labor.

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Steely Veteran Of Nixon Days; Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. Man in the News Senate May Shift the Focus A Steely Veteran From Nixon's Years Questions From Senators Favored Mining of Haiphong An Order From the Commander Watergate, the Toughest Battle

By David E. Rosenbaum Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16--Twelve years ago, the career of Alexander M. Haig Jr. was at something of a standstill. A 44-year-old Army colonel, he had seen little combat and seemed ...

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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.