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What was going on when I was born?

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Historical Context for December 30, 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

1980Eliza Dushku, American former actress and producer[†]

Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American former actress. Dushku starred as Faith in the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998–2003) and its spin-off series Angel (2000–2003). She also had lead roles in the Fox supernatural drama series Tru Calling (2003–2005) and the Fox science fiction series Dollhouse (2009–2010), for which she was a producer.

1980D. J. Mbenga, Congolese-Belgian basketball player[†]

Didier "D. J." Ilunga-Mbenga is a Belgian-Congolese former professional basketball player. He has also played for the Belgian national basketball team as he is a dual citizen of both his native countries.

1980Alison McGovern, British politician[†]

Alison McGovern is a British Labour politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birkenhead since 2024, and previously Wirral South since 2010. She has served as Minister of State for Employment since July 2024.

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Headlines from December 30, 1980

Salesman and Wife Found Slain In Bedroom of Rockland Home; Salesman and Wife Are Found Murdered in Bedroom of Rockland Home

By Edward Hudson Special To the New York Times

MONSEY, N.Y., Dec. 29--A 50-yearold furniture salesman and his 47-yearold wife were found murdered yesterday in the master bedroom of their ranch home in this Rockland County community. The police said that the man had been "savagely beaten" around the head and that his wife's body had been found in a bathtub of water.

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U.S. Drug Sleuths Finally Solve Mystery of the Deadly China White; New Narcotic Identified After Monthlong Quest Drug Sleuths Solve Mystery of China White Down the Wrong Pathways

By John Noble Wilford

McLEAN, Va. EARLY last month, police in Riverside County, Calif., near Los Angeles, came upon a drug overdose victim who car ried a tiny packet containing a pinch of unfamiliar white powder. A preliminary analysis ruled out any of the common drugs in the legal or illegal marketplace.

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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.