Rhetorical Analysis Of Christina Mcauliffe's Speech

The context of this speech is that on January 18, 1986 the Challenger Shuttle exploded seventy-three seconds into flight. Aboard this aircraft was Christina McAuliffe, the first teacher in Space, who served as an inspiration for school kids nationwide. The speaker of this speech is Ronald Reagan, the President at the time, and his audience is the citizens of the United States. During his speech, Reagan creates a sense of unity and also expresses his feelings of grief. The purpose of each is to convince the Nation that he is a fellow American and to show the value he holds for human life. In order to achieve the impression that Reagan is a fellow American he takes on the persona of a sensitive family man who feels for the loss of his country.