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Bailey Beken
Professor Collins
ENGL 1302
29 February 2016
Appeals on Tragedy
On January 28, 1968, in Washington D.C., President Ronald Reagan delivered his
Address to the Nation on the Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy. The space shuttle Challenger
exploded during lift off claiming the lives of seven brave astronauts. The Challenger explosion
was the first Space Shuttle tragedy to take place above ground. Many American people wondered
if this would mark the end of the American space program. Ethos, logos, and pathos in Ronald
Reagans Address to the nation on the Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy addresses the loss of
seven heroes, and the push for the continuation of Americas space program.
President Reagan gains ethos throughout his speech thus establishing his credibility and
earning his trust with his audience. This begins in paragraph one of Reagans speech he begins to
show ethos to establish a trust and understanding with the people by talking about the tragedy
that took place earlier that day. Along with letting the people know that he and his family are
saddened by the accident, he states that it is a day for America to mourn and remember the seven
truly brave astronauts (Reagan par. 1). Later on in his speech Ronald Reagan again gains ethos
but this time to establish an authority. Americans were thinking that the Challenger tragedy
would mark the end of space travel for America, but Reagan explains that the space program will
continue. In paragraph seven Ronald Reagan states Nothing ends here; our hopes and our
journeys continue. Reagan establishes a since of authority here so that the American people will

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continue to support space travel and research in the United States, even after this unexpected
tragedy.
Examples of logos are seen throughout President Ronald Reagans speech. In Reagans
address he uses examples from the past to help show his knowledge and understanding of the
space program. In Paragraph two, Regan compares the event of the Challenger explosion on
January 28, 1986 to the accident that had taken place nineteen years before where three other
astronauts lost their lives in a ground accident. In this paragraph, he also lists each name of the
seven astronauts who lost their lives in the explosion to show his knowledge of each person
whose life was bravely, yet tragedy taken. By using logos Reagans audience can better trust him
because he feels for the seven families that lost loved ones, and explains that America will stand
up through this hard time and continue the space program. Later on in his speech Reagan
compares Challenger to Sir Francis Drake who passed away aboard a ship while exploring on
that same day three hundred and ninety years earlier; Reagan explains that like the brave
explorer the astronauts dedication was complete (par. 9). Reagan shows his knowledge of even
early history to achieve a comparison of two different times in history. To prove that America
will continue to discover in space Reagan states Weve grown used to the idea of space, and,
perhaps we forgot that weve only just begun (par. 4). This quote is important, and moving
because he explains that this is not the end, its only the beginning for space travel.
Reagan uses several examples of pathos through his moving speech. He adds pathos to
share that his emotion and sympathy is just like what the American people after this terrible
accident. Regan begins using pathos in paragraph three by seemingly speaking only to the
families of the seven explaining how even though they cannot feel the pain that they feel due to
their loss; that he and the country are sympathetic and understands how hard this is for each of

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them. Then in paragraph five Reagan addresses the schoolchildren that had seen what was
happening that day, Regan explains to them that in order to move forward and discover
sometimes scary things happen even though they hurt and are hard to understand. Him
explaining this to the children of this country shows how he cares for each person no matter how
young or old. Then to move the audiences emotions in a more positive way Regan encourages
each person that works for NASA that Your dedication and professionalism have moved and
impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it (par. 8). In saying this
Reagan is trying to lift the spirits of a brokenhearted country. In Regans speech pathos just
might be the most important element used due to the already high emotions caused by the
tragedy. Regan shares his emotions and shows sympathy to the families of those who passed, he
shows understanding to the confused children, and finally expresses thanks to those that work for
the space program (NASA). He appeals to many emotions to explain all sides of the tragedy.
Even though the people face sadness now that there is still determination for the space program
in the United States.
Each of the three elements, ethos, logos, and pathos, that Ronald Reagan uses in his
speech help him connect with the people of the United States. Reagan starts by establishing his
credibility with the element of ethos through the speech, then by using both logic to show his
knowledge and understanding, and pathos to show his emotions agree with those of the
American people; he accomplishes the purpose of his address to the United States people after
the unbelievable events of that day. Reagan explains and proves his points through his speech
with the use of these three elements that though times may be difficult at the moment, and it
seems to be the end of space travel America will stand up stronger and continue to research and

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explore space in the future, but that the lives of the seven extremely brave astronoughts who lost
their lives in the Challenger explosion that tragic day will never be forgotten.

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Works Cited
Reagan, Ronald. Address to the Nation on the Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy.
AMERICANRHETORIC. AMERICANRHETORIC. N.D. Web. 14. Feb. 2016.