Caitlin Panarella

AP Language and American Literature

14 October 2014

Rhetorical Analysis: Reagan’s “Shuttle Challenger” Speech

            The United States lost seven astronauts in space on January 28, 1986, a tragedy in the wake of a flourishing space program.  Reagan addressed the nation later that day.  The aim of the speech is to comfort a mournful, confused population, reassure it, and to invoke hope for the future while also expressing sorrow.  In this address to the nation, President Ronald Reagan uses rhetoric successfully by expressing emotion and authority that will achieve these aims, while not undermining himself with unnecessary facts.

As President, Reagan already has authority and credibility, but the shock of the tragedy necessitates his reestablishment of that ethos.  He begins by speaking of how he changed what he planned to discuss that day according to the tragedy, demonstrating how he is sensitive to the sadness of the public.  Reagan then immediately interjects his own emotional response, articulating how his sadness is the same of the people’s.  He gives himself ethos by paying appropriate homage to the sorrowful event, as well as admitting that he can never truly understand the grief of the astronauts’ families.  Admitting what he does not know gives what he claims to know better standing ground.  This comforts a disoriented public.

This address is direct pathos, as every word is meant to empathize with the audience, acknowledge their sadness, and try to stem it with hope.  Reagan attempts to evoke hope in his audience when he celebrates the accomplishments of the U.S. space program and predicts future explorations.  Reagan also uses pathos when he makes an allusion to Sir Francis Drake, providing background information.  The name serves to bring to mind an inspired feeling, one of respect towards the lost explorers.

Throughout this speech, Reagan uses little logos, which was most likely intentional.  Hard facts would undermine the aim of his speech.  He instead chooses to keep the speech personal, placing himself in solidarity with all citizens.