Ronald Reagan Challenger Explosion Speech Analysis

In his “Challenger Explosion” speech, Pres. Ronald Reagan comforts the nation in the aftermath of NASA’s Challenger Space Shuttle exploded shortly after takeoff killing all seven astronauts. In this speech, he used rhetorical devices, such as alliteration, allusion, anaphora, and euphemism to relay his feelings of sadness and grief.
In his speech in the aftermath of the Challenger explosion, Pres. Reagan used alliteration to convey his feelings of sadness to the families of the seven astronauts lost. He repeats the words special, spirit, and says to show as to what high regards he held the astronauts. Pres. Reagan said that the astronauts “had [a] special grace, that special spirit that says, “Give me a challenge and I’ll meet it with joy” (Reagan 1). The repetition of the words special, spirit, and says means that Reagan believed that the astronauts had something no one else had that differentiated them from the rest of society. Additionally, Ronald Reagan

alliterated a second time, this time, showing the courage of the Challenger crew. Reagan believed that “the future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew [pulled] us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them” (Reagan 1).The repetition of the letter “F” shows that Reagan wants the astronauts to lead the nation in their field, even from the grave. In addition to alliteration, Pres. Reagan also used allusion in his speech to the families of the seven astronauts killed when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff.
Addressing the nation after the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle, former U.S.

president Ronald Reagan used allusion in his speech to the families of the victims. Pres. Reagan used allusion when he alluded to a quote by an early historian about the death of Sir Francis Drake. Reagan alluded to the death of Drake who had “lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it” (Reagan 1). Reagan alludes to this quote because he believes that in the same way Drake was connected to the ocean in life and death, so were the astronauts of the NASA space shuttle. In addition to an early historian, Pres. Reagan also alludes to the poetry of British-American poet, John Gillespie Magee Jr. To Reagan, the astronauts “slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God” (Reagan 1). This is an allusion because Reagan references the deaths of the astronauts to the poem, High Flight by John G. Magee Jr. He believes that the astronauts have left the natural world and have connected with God in the

supernatural.
Anaphora is a rhetorical device used by Pres. Ronald Reagan in his speech the afternoon of the Challenger explosion. Reagan used anaphora when he said that we, as a nation, have grown numb to the idea of innovation. Reagan believes that “we’ve grown used to wonder in this century... [and] we’ve grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we’ve only just begun. We’re still pioneers” (Reagan 1). The word “we’ve” is repeated to create an emotional appeal with the families of the victims. Reagan also uses anaphora when he states that the explosion will not have an affect on the NASA space program. Reagan says that there will be “more shuttle flights, and more shuttle crews, and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, [and] more teachers in space” (Reagan 1). The word “more” is repeated as to not let the explosion hamper the good of the space program. No matter what circumstances arise, the space program will continue to thrive on. In addition to anaphora, Pres. Reagan used euphemism when he tried to console the nation following the grappling events of January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff.
When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, then president, Ronald Reagan gave a speech to the families of the seven victims and the nation in which euphemism was one of the rhetorical devices used. At a time when the families were full of emotions, Pres. Reagan tried to not use words that would stir up their emotions even more. Although they “were aware of the dangers,” Reagan believed the astronauts showed great courage when they still managed to do “their jobs brilliantly” (Reagan 1). Reagan hints at the fact that the astronauts showed immense courage until the very end of their lives without referring to any terms related to death. Furthermore, Reagan tries to reiterate the notion that pain is a part of life. He mentions that “painful things happen” even though “hard to understand” (Reagan 1). Reagan refers to the death of the astronauts without telling the way in which they died.
In final analysis, Pres. Ronald Reagan used alliteration, allusion, anaphora, and euphemism in his speech to a grieving nation following the explosion of NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. These rhetorical devices were used, not to sadden the moment, but to remember the seven astronauts and the lives they lived.