Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech

Matthew Morgan
Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but
the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and
remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We
know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.
Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the
ground. But we've never lost an astronaut in flight. We've never had a tragedy like this. And
perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger
Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn
seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka,
Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.
For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we
feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and
brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, "Give me a challenge, and I'll
meet it with joy." They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished
to serve, and they did. They served all of us.
We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty five years the
United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space,
and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the
Challenger crew, were pioneers.
And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live
coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like
this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a
chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to
the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them.
I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program. And what happened today does
nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things
up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a
minute.
We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and,
yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and
our journeys continue.
I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA, or who
worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved and
impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."
There's a coincidence today. On this day three hundred and ninety years ago, the great explorer
Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers
Matthew Morgan
were the oceans, and a historian later said, "He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it."
Well, today, we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.
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 their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of
God."
Thank you.
Matthew Morgan
SOAPSTone Ronald Reagan’s Challenger Speech

S Subject
The subject is the Challenger Explosion, and Ronald Reagan’s thoughts in the current
situation.
O Occasion
The speech was given on January 28, 1986
This speech was given after the shuttle exploded. Originally the president was going to
address the state of the union, although he changed his plans after the tragedy.
The author did this because it was his duty as president to address this.
After a discussion with his aides, he postponed his state of the union speech and gave
one on the challenger instead. A few days later, he also attended the memorial service
at the space center.
A Audience
I personally think that the speech was specifically written for the schoolchildren
watching the launch, and the families of the astronauts. This is because he is in part, as
president, responsible. He also directly addresses the school children in a part of the
speech, and explains about the mortality of man. He also was addressing the citizens of
the united states, so he was also most likely addressing the American people in general.
P Purpose
The purpose is to comfort and encourage the nation to move forward to prosperity and
greatness. Its clear he’s trying to spark a response in people, and appeals towards one’s
sense of emotion, or their ethos.
S Speaker
The speaker, Ronald Reagan, is the head of the nation. We care because he is the
president of the united states. This position automatically brings respect and authority
onto him, and forces one’s attention to him.
T Tone
His attitude towards the subject of the speech is mournful, and somewhat sad. At the
same time, he hopeful for the future, and encourages the nation to be prepared to
move forward. His attitude towards the audience is the same, and he wants people to
not be discouraged by the event, and move forward for more achievements for the
nation.
Matthew Morgan
Thesis
Reagan makes good use of Vivid Imagery, Metaphors, and Diction to persuade
his audience about the reasons of why this is a definite trajedy.
Body1
The First Sentence
Begins first by talking about
The Second Sentence

The writer brings this up by
The Third Sentence

The writer uses it in order to power up the reader for the final confrontation.
The Fourth Sentence

Uses this by doing a thing
Body2
The First Sentence
The Second Sentence
The Third Sentence
The Fourth Sentence
Body3
The First Sentence
The Second Sentence
The Third Sentence

Matthew Morgan
The Fourth Sentence
Conclusion

Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Matthew Morgan

Ronald Reagans Challenger Speech

SOAPSTone Ronald Reagan’s Challenger Speech

The Second Sentence

The Third Sentence

The Fourth Sentence

The Second Sentence

The Third Sentence

The Fourth Sentence

The Second Sentence

The Third Sentence

The Fourth Sentence

You might also like