Ronald Reagan Disaster Speech Analysis

In his speech, President Ronald Reagan appeals to the masses by using a variety of rhetorical devices to invoke an emotional response from the audience. He makes it known that the astronauts were great people. He compliments them and offers his condolences to their families. His speech allows him to make his audience feel distressed for the disaster. The figurative language used helps the audience to envision a picture of the disaster.
Reagan starts off by mentioning that he was planning on delivering the State of the Union Address, but that the disaster had taken place. He lets the country know that he and his wife are deeply grieved by the tragedy. He appeals to the audience’s emotions stating that “Nancy and I are pained to the core by

He states that “we’ll continue our quest in space.” He states that the disaster is not an end, but a beginning. He uses concrete details to inspire and persuade his audience. “There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space.” Reagan adds that he wishes he could talk to all the people of NASA and show his gratitude towards them. He relates the incident to an event that occurred three hundred and ninety years ago with an allusion to the death of Sir Francis Drake that makes it possible for the reader to deductive reason that honor is given to astronauts that died. “Their dedication was, like Drake’s,

He states that “we will never forget them.” In the final sentence of the speech, Reagan uses the quote ”’touch the face of God’” which is an allusion to a poem from World War II. He then thanks his audience for listening.
Although a generally short speech, the solemn tone and sad occasion help to touch the hearts of the audience. Through constant repetition that the astronauts were great people the audience can infer that they were indeed