On this day: August 28
Secret talks on German reunification begin
On 28 August 1989, behind closed doors in Bonn and in informal meetings in Europe, officials and intermediaries began discreet discussions about the possibility of German reunification amid accelerating political change in East Germany and across Eastern Europe.
Congressional Budget Fight Triggers Government Shutdown
A failure to reconcile fiscal 1996 appropriations led to a partial federal government shutdown after late-August budget negotiations collapsed, interrupting services and spotlighting partisan conflict over spending priorities.
Secret Talks on German Reunification Begin
Behind closed doors, officials from East and West Germany and allied powers have started discreet negotiations on potential pathways toward reunification, marking a pivotal moment in late-20th-century European diplomacy.
Government Shuts Down as 1995 Budget Standoff Collapses
On August 28, 1995, the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown after Congress and President Clinton failed to agree on spending legislation during a high-stakes budget dispute between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democratic administration.
Martin Luther King Jr. Delivers 'I Have a Dream' at 1963 March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the 'I Have a Dream' address during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a pivotal moment in the U.S. civil rights movement that helped focus national attention on racial inequality and segregation.