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Bailey Beken
Professor Collins
ENGL 1302
24 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 address the loss of
seven heroes, and the continuation of Americas space program.
President Reagan applies ethos throughout his speech to establish credibility and trust
with the American people. From the first paragraph 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 and 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 uses 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 American 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 by using ethos so that the American

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people can know that space travel and research in the United States will continue even after the
unexpected tragedy that day.
Examples of logos are seen throughout President Ronald Reagans speech. In Reagans
speech 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). 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).
Reagan uses several examples of pathos through his moving speech. He adds pathos to
show emotion and sympathy to the American people after this terrible accident. Regan begins
using pathos in paragraph three by seemingly speaking just to the families of the seven
explaining how even though they cannot feel the pain that they feel due to their loss; that he is
sympathetic and understands how hard this is for each of them. Then in paragraph five Reagan
addresses the schoolchildren that see what has happened that day, Regan explains to them that in
order to move forward and discover sometimes bad things happen even though they hurt and are

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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 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 ethos, logos, and pathos 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
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.