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Historical Context for December 23, 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 23, 1980

U.S. TELLS OF WORRY OVER HOW HOSTAGES ARE BEING TREATED; SOME OF 52 MAY BE IN PRISONS State Department Moves to Rebut Iran's Assertion that Captives Are in Luxury Conditions Iranian Reports Are Contradicted U.S. Expresses Concern Over Hostages' Treatment Some Families Oppose Demand

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22--The United States expressed concern today over the treatment of the 52 Americans held in Iran, saying that several of them may be confined in prisons and that some may need medical attention.

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Tarnower Witness Bolsters Case Against Fight for Gun; Questioned About Distances Partial Disagreement Witness in Tarnower Trial Bolsters Case Against Struggle for Weapon Other Shots Accounted For

By James Feron Special To the New York Times

WHITE PLAINS, Dec. 22--A ballistics expert testified today in the Jean S. Harris murder trial that Dr. Herman Tarnower's fatal wound, a shot that entered the rear of his right shoulder and followed a downward course, was fired "from a distance of 12 to 15 inches."

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Crime Termed 'Berserk' in Miami; Refugees and Drugs Blamed in Part; Crime Is Said to Have 'Gone Berserk' in South Florida Numerous Reasons Billion-Dollar Drug Traffic Unemployment and Poverty Police Recruitment Problems

By Wendell Rawls Jr. Special To the New York Times

MIAMI--Robert Boyer has a law office on West Flagler Street, in the downtown business district. But he uses such names as "Vietnam," "Dodge City," "The O.K. Corral" and "the war zone" to describe what the area has become.

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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.