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Ronald Reagan Speech Rhetorical Analysis

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When national tragedy strikes in the United States, alarmed and concerned citizens look to their president for guidance. On January 28th, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing seven astronauts and sending the public into a state of panic. President Ronald W. Reagan addressed the nation on that day, employing the rhetorical strategies of compelling diction and emphatic allusion to achieve his purpose of mourning those lost while still encouraging the spirit of celestial discovery. President Reagan utilizes both positively and negatively connotated words in order to create a sharp contrast in his diction. For example, positively connotated words used throughout his speech include, “brave”, “faith”, “daring”, “courage”, “respect”,

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