Rhtorical Analysis Of Reagans Speech
Seventy-three seconds after the Space Shuttle ‘Challenger” took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, January, 28, 1986, it ‘exploded’ before ever leaving earth’s atmosphere. Citizens nationwide watched the horrifying disaster unfold in person as well as on live-TV. This event was NASA’s first ever-failed attempt to launch and reach space, in addition to claiming the lives of seven, who were first astronauts to be killed in flight. President at the time, Ronald Reagan, addressed the nation hours later in response to the tragedy. Reagan’s speech was not solely intended to mourn the death of the seven Challenger astronauts, but also for family, friends, and all Americans, even schoolchildren, who were impacted by the event. (Astronauts Probably Survived Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion)
Regan’s speech was to aid and give recognition as well as to console and find meaning amongst the day’s tragedy. The speech began by paralleling another terrible NASA accident, which had happened nineteen years earlier. Reagan too, claims that although this type of event has occurred before, the nation overcame the pain and setbacks of the tragedy and pushed forward. Reagan gives the nation light for a brighter tomorrow without being disrespectful to the families who lost a loved one on that day in history.
Regans speech spoke to the people trough different types of appeals he imbedded in the context of the speech. There appeals were emotion, logic, and ethics. Reagan generates emotions with nearly every word he said that day. One in particular, “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God' (President Ronald Regan on the Challenger Disaster). He also says that despite the fact the courageous crew of...
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