What was going on when I was born?

Iran appears to have restored its exports of crude oil to levels equaling, or perhaps even exceeding, those that prevailed before the start of its war with Iraq, United States Government and industry sources said today. Much of this oil is coming through the country's principal oilloading port of Kharg Island, which had been reported to have suffered war damage in varying degrees. The huge refinery at Abadan, about 135 miles northwest of Kharg Island at the head of the Persian Gulf, has been A private-sector approach to financing oil purchases for the onebillion-barrel strategic petroleum reserve is being studied by Reagan administration strategists. Page D17. hit and largely shut down but its main function was to produce petroleum products for domestic use.

President Carter said farewell to the nation tonight in an address from the Oval Office in which he called on Americans to continue the struggle to avoid nuclear war, protect the environment and enhance human rights. Stressing themes that were central to his Presidency, Mr. Carter also cautioned against the intrusion of ''single-issue groups and special-interest organizations'' in the American political process, warning that ''the national interest is not always the sum of all our single and special interests.'' In a departure from his prepared text, which had made no mention of the American hostages in Iran, Mr. Carter said he hoped and prayed that they would soon be released but said he could not predict when. Other than that, in his 15-minute speech the President did not mention such issues as the hostage crisis and the economy that contributed to his defeat by Ronald Reagan last November. In many ways the address was reminiscent of the ideas and ideals Mr. Carter espoused in his campaign for the Presidency four years ago.

In The Times of Jan. 7 on proposals by a special commission on immigration policy included incorrect information. A clarifying article appears on page B9. wore a parka

President-elect Ronald Reagan will carry out a campaign pledge to accelerate decontrol of domestic crude oil prices with an executive order ''early'' in his administration, his chief domestic policy adviser said today. Congressional specialists have estimated that decontrolling those prices Feb. 1, rather than allowing phased decontrol to continue through Sept. 30, would net the Government about $2 billion in additional revenue in 1981 from the tax on ''windfall'' oil profits passed under President Carter. But because most of the oil still under controls is scheduled for purchase by the Federal Government for the strategic oil reserve and by small refineries, the specialists said, a speedup of decontrol would have little impact on gasoline or heating oil prices for consumers. Welfare Shift Planned Martin Anderson, Mr. Reagan's domestic issues adviser in the Presidential campaign and now prospective chief of policy development for the Reagan White House, asserted that Mr. Reagan stood by his long-declared plan ''to deregulate the energy market'' and would begin moving in that direction early in his term.

The Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board gave conditional approval tonight for $400 million in loan guarantees for the ailing auto maker. But the board insisted that there be major concessions from the United Automobile Workers, the company's lenders and its suppliers. Lee A. Iacocca, Chrysler's chairman, called the board's action on a revised survival plan a ''super deal'' that could bring as much as $2 billion in relief to his company, the nation's third-largest car manufacturer. Formal approval of the loan guarantees by Friday depends on Chrysler's submitting a plan calling for these concessions: - The U.A.W. would agree to forgo current and future cost-ofliving adjustments and wage increases that would save $622 million from union members, and $783 million if the nonunion Chrysler workers are included, by September 1982, when the present contract expires.

International The way for a U.S.-Iranian accord to free the 52 American hostages was apparently opened by enabling legislation approved by Iran's Parliament after more than four hours of sometimes raucous debate and impassioned appeals by the chief Iranian negotiator. The bill, which seems to be the key to resolving the 14-month dispute, authorizes the arbitration of claims against Iranian assets. (Page A1, Column 6.) Washington was warily optimistic about the Iranian Parliament's approval of the arbitration of claims in the hostage dispute. United States officials called the vote ''apparently a step in the right direction,'' but noted that a final agreement had not been reached. It was anticipated that the next 48 hours would be crucial in determining whether the 52 Americans will be freed before the Carter Administration leaves office on Tuesday. (A1:5.)

The Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board gave conditional approval for the auto maker's application for an additional $400 million in Government loan guarantees. Approval was conditioned on ratification by United Automobile Workers union members of wage concessions and presentation by Chrysler of agreements to convert $500 million in loans to preferred stock and to pay off another $500 million at 30 cents on the dollar. (Page A1.) Hiram Walker-Consumers Home Ltd. said it would buy oil and gas properties from Davis Oil and affiliated companies for more than $600 million. The Toronto-based company, which has been seeking energy acquisitions in the U.S., said the properties are primarily in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. (D1.)

For Israel's teachers, salaries are only part of the problem A2 Israelis rebuff move to keep Begin in office a bit longer A2 Opposition in West Berlin moves for early elections A3 11 killed in crash of 2 U.S. planes in Europe A4 Red Brigades say they will free magistrate A5 Common Market membership forces meat prices up in Greece A6 Around the World A7 Nigerian development plan puts new emphasis on defense A8 U.S. aide says 2 advisers killed in Salvador were ''under cover'' A10 Hong Kong drastically curbs in- flow of Chinese A11 U.S. urges effort to combat global environmental ills A12 U.S. doubts Moscow and Kabul relax opposition to negotiations A14 Government/Politics Chicago City Council moves to re- store patronage system A18 Louisiana judge is forbidden to defy desegregation order A19 Carey bids Legislature pass law on legalized gambling B4 Justice official accuses colleague of trying to sabotage Abscam B9 Jellybean makers expect boom in Reagan years B12 Attorney General-designate angry for a change B13 General Around the Nation A18 Witness says Mrs. Harris signed will on day of shooting B2 PARKING REGULATIONS Because of the cold weather, alter- nate-side parking rules are suspended in New York City today. All other park- ing regulations remain in effect. The Home Section Home Neighborly crime prevention C1 Helpful Hardware C2 Home Beat C3 Home Improvement C4 Designing an environment to suit needs of children C6 At Your Service: Wood for the fireplace C8 Two viewpoints meet in a ro- mantic yet portable design C10 Soap and vinegar are fine insec- ticides C13 Prizes that set a record at auction in 1980 C1 Women and design in Milan C1 Hers C2 Designers form business network C7 For Washington's 'outs,' time to move on C12 Health/Science Study links Hodgkin's disease to upper-class upbringing A19 Sharp decline found in daily smok- ing by teen-agers A20 Scientists seek to test solvent on myasthenia gravis A21 Arts/Entertainment Carter and Brzezinski negotiating to sell books C15 Nine-year-old from Yardley, Pa., chosen to be movie Annie C17 Floyd's ''Willie Stark'' to have premiere in Houston C17 Emlyn Williams back on Broad- way as Charles Dickens C20 Karen Bernard and Diane Jacobo- witz share dance program C20 Ann Arensberg's first novel, ''Sis- ter Wolf,'' is reviewed C21 Paul Schenly, pianist, makes re- cital debut C21 Dance Theater of Harlem per- forms ''Swan Lake'' C22 VanDemark, double-bassist, in re- cital with Watts C24 Sports Connors, Borg and Lendl win opening matches in Masters D19 B6 Frank Robinson is named man- ager of baseball Giants D19 Coach Flores recalls Raiders' humble beginnings D19 76ers down Nets, 110-105, in a Philadelphia day game D21 Spurs down Knicks, 116-105 D21 St. John's wins in overtime D21 Dave Anderson on Frank Robin- son D21 Lietzke and Gilder share golf lead D24 Women warn N.C.A.A. they will continue fight D24 Features/Notes Notes on People B8 Going Out Guide C18 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A22 Private clubs and public duty The criminal justice pipeline What's in 'safer' cigarettes? The editorial notebook Letters A22 William Safire: Haig's confirma- tion hearings were good for all A23 Anthony Lewis: hubris takes its toll on our Presidents A23 Fred C. Simmons: not seeing the trees for the forest A23 Richard M. Clurman: Reagan should use Reaganism A23

THROUGHOUT 1980, auctions of decorative arts and antiques produced astounding prices. This escalation of prices at public sales was attributed by the auction houses to a variety of factors, the most important of which was the exceptional quality of the properties offered. Was it an accident of history that so many auction sales of major works occurred in 1980? Hardly. With the exception of estates sold because of the deaths of their owners - notably the record-breaking Americana collection of Col. Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch - momentum attracted owners interested in capitalizing on the much-publicized upward spiral of prices.

Business inventories and sales remained relatively stable in November, the Commerce Department said today, presenting what one Government economist called ''a pretty healthy picture'' of the American economy. The ratio of inventories to sales fell to 1.39 to 1, its lowest since last January's 1.38 to 1. The October ratio was 1.40 to 1. The ratio, which businesses like to see at a low level, climbed to 1.52 to 1 last May and June, its highest since the 1975 recession.

Hiram Walker-Consumers Home Ltd., a Torontobased liquor and energy company, announced today that it would buy a range of oil and gas properties for more than $600 million (United States) from the Davis Oil Company of Denver and affiliated companies. The properties involved - primarily in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas - produce about 4,000 barrels of oil and 40 million cubic feet of natural gas a day from 907 wells. About 200 additional development wells are awaiting drilling.

''The hostages are like a fruit from which all the juice has been squeezed out.