Ronald Reagan's Challenger Speech is arguably one of the best performances of the 40th President of the United States. I will attempt to analyze the different aspects of rhetorical situations in this essay. I will try to show how the occasion, events, and audience shape the speaker's approach to organizing the message. I will explain the meaning of each element and how the speaker uses these elements to convey an appropriate message. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayIn an era of accelerated American leadership in innovation and technology, the Challenger accident in January 1986 came as a shock for everyone in the United States and around the world. “The Space Shuttle has flown 24 times without harm to its crews since the first launch of the Columbia orbiter in April 1981.” There was a positive and hopeful attitude. This tragic incident happened unexpectedly and shocked the nation. Ronald Reagan emphasizes the opportunity (i.e. requirement) by stating that "today's events have led me to change my plans", referring to the plans he developed to establish the State of the Union. He constructs his philosophy with the audience by stating that this person is the President of the United States. The speaker is a unifying individual who leads the nation and enjoys credibility among its citizens. He is right to emphasize the uniqueness of the situation when he says: “We have never lost an astronaut in flight; we have never experienced a tragedy like this” (Reagan, 1986). While acknowledging that the United States has recorded safe flights. After the incident, there was sadness and a theme of national disappointment. Most Americans, from schoolchildren to adults, followed the launch, because it was the first of its kind to have a regular teacher on board. Ronald Reagan's speech was to be addressed to the entire nation. Its audience was the entire United States. It was meant to emphasize a sense of unity and send the message that they were all grieving together. He does this very well by using words like "we", "us" showing the audience that he has the same feelings about the incident. He says “Nancy and I are saddened” to emphasize that he is also personally affected by this event. This allows him to create a connection with his audience, an identification technique that helps him create a common bond with his listeners. He also says, “We mourn their loss together as a nation” to emphasize unity and connection with his audience. He also adds to his positive philosophy: “We don't keep secrets or cover things up. We do all of this openly and publicly,” and that kind of statement sends the message that he and his administration are trustworthy. The aim of his message was to unify the country and recognize that the event caused great grief to the families of these people. astronauts, as well as Americans as a whole. Using unifying language such as “we,” “us,” and “we are all” helps him realize his intention. At the time of the accident, some people were angry and wanted to know who was to blame. He made sure that at that point everyone came together and tried not to blame anyone at NASA. He said: “And we know your anguish, we share it” referring to those involved in the project at NASA. “Simultaneously addressing the bereaved families and the nation as a whole, his words were fitting” (The Times London, 1986) shows his effectiveness. In his speech he introduced himself as.