Ronald Reagan Farewell Speech Analysis

Ronald reagan was president for 8 years starting in 1981 then being re-elected for a 2nd term in 1985 later completing his 2 term of presidency in 19 89. Ronald Reagan 's farewell speech was given during his 34th and final broadcast as president. This speech was composed of several sections, one being the final section based around the concept of “The Shining City on a Hill”. Being that this was his last broadcast to the people of the nation he expressed his final thoughts of the past 8 years he had lead and assured the people that he lead the them to be a bigger, brighter, shining city on a hill. He accomplished that very well within the speech given. The speech was given to the people of the nation over a television broadcast. Being that …show more content…
A man that has been running the country for 8 years using the smallest of details should know and understand the country far better than the average citizen. With that being said, if he himself is saying things that pertain to the nation as being something as glorious and beautiful as the shining city on the hill then to the average citizen of the nation is must be true. This gives Ronald the trust of the people which helps him deliver the feeling of hope and pride for the country that these viewers call their home. This authority and credibility that he has is really important because it gives his speech a reason to be heard and believed as the truth and nothing but the …show more content…
This made it easy for people to easily bring emotion into what he said throughout the speech and throughout his presidency alone. Since his goal was to give people of the nation pride and hope he did this very well by stressing the beauty of the country he had lead. A part of the speech that largely brought out the feeling of hope in the speech was said as “And she 's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.” Using the word “home” makes the viewer relate to their own lives and what that word means to them personally. The emotions and the feeling of safety, warmth, love, and secureness are often associated with the word “home” so using that in his speech as an example of the country it gives people the feelings he intended. This word choice was not by accident but to use a pathos like approach in which would, and did, bring people into what he was saying with their heart instead of just their