At the UN General Assembly this week, President Obama and Iranian President Rouhani came closer to shaking hands than leaders of the two countries have come in decades. Alas, an American-Iranian handshake was not to be—not yet anyway—but the mere suggestion that a president of Iran would shake hands with the leader of the Great Satan is a step forward in its own right. At this rate we may be marking a historic Obama-Rouhani handshake before too long after all.
A Look Back at Historic Handshakes
Obama and Rouhani's much-anticipated meeting at the UN didn't happen. Here are some of the most momentous handshakes in history to tide you over instead.