President Ronald Reagan's "Challenger Address" Analysis

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President’s Ronald Reagan “Challenger Address” Analysis On January 28th, 1986, I was one of the millions of people watching in horror the live transmission of the “Challenger” tragedy. Even today, the images and the grief associated with the broadcast are bringing tears in my eyes. A sense of confidence in the human invincibility was lost that day. During the endless TV coverage, I had the chance to see President Reagan’s address and I still remember the feelings of wonder at his take on the tragedy. I expected endless mourning and eulogies, but instead I felt pride, excitement for the future, an endless optimism and belief into human resilience. Even though I had tears in my eyes, President Reagan’s speech made me feel embraced, comforted and ready to start a new day. In reviewing this speech after twenty-eight years, I find that it delivers the exact same emotions and ideas. With a lifetime of experience behind, I cannot stop feeling the same optimism, the same comforting reaction and especially the same audacity that dreams are possible and attainable. A master of communication, President Reagan understands that the “Challenger” disaster had to be the only subject of interest on his agenda, and that his role is multifaceted. Although delivering a speech of fact, he aimes not only to inform and comfort a nation in mourning, but to honor and most importantly to channel a positive look into the future. Aware of the possible implications of this disaster for the reputation and ultimately, the continuation of the National Air and Space Association, Reagan chooses to postpone his State of the Union address. Instead, addressing the grieving nation, Reagan contextualizes the disaster within the framework of American Progressivism, portraying in his message the difficulty of exploration as an intricate part of its great achievements.

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