For Presidents, A Chance to Grieve and Inspire

American presidents often face their greatest speaking challenges when called upon to serve as consoler-in-chief to a nation grieving a collective loss.

But national calamities also give U.S. leaders an unequaled chance to inspire and provide solace.

Remember President Reagan's evening address to the nation on the day America suffered through the Challenger disaster that claimed the lives of 7 astronauts:

"Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss."

That speech is remembered as one of Ronald Reagan's finest and most moving – especially its ending.

"The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'"

In 1995, President Clinton found himself in a similar situation, trying to comfort the nation after the worst episode of terrorism to hit the U.S. to that time: the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

"This terrible sin took the lives of our American family, innocent children in that building only because their parents were trying to be good parents as well as good workers, citizens in the building going about their daily business and many there who served the rest of us, who worked to help the elderly and the disabled, who worked to support our farmers and our veterans, who worked to enforce our laws and to protect us."

The loss of 168 lives was an unimaginable blow to the people of Oklahoma City and Mr. Clinton tried to offer relief.

"You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. And you have certainly not lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes."

Six years later, President George W. Bush addressed the nation after a day of terror attacks from abroad that forever changed the notion of national security in America.

"Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger."

After spending the day flying from Florida to Louisiana to Nebraska, until it was deemed safe for him to return to the nation's capital, President Bush sought to help Americans renew their courage.

"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."

And it may well be determined an act of terrorism that brought President Obama to Fort Hood today, to speak of the 13 lives lost in a shooting spree last Thursday.

"This is a time of war. And yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great American community. This is the fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible."

President Obama held up the victims of the shooting as heroes to be admired and remembered.

"We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm's way."

Interestingly, the president even chose to make a veiled reference to the Army psychiatrist seen to have opened fire on his comrades - and of the extremist Islamic statements attributed to him.

"No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice – in this world, and the next."

And like the presidents who preceded him at times of tribulation, President Obama ended his speech with appeals to the Lord.

"So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America."

History has show that American presidents best earn the trust and confidence of the people they serve, based on their performance at times like these.

Full Remarks: Obama at Fort Hood

CBSNews.com Special Report: Fort Hood Massacre

More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:

Nation Honors 13 Fort Hood Victims
FBI Searches for Missed Clues on Hasan
Hasan Warned Army about Muslim GI Morale
Senate Panel to Investigate Ft. Hood Massacre
Fort Hood Suspect Awake, Army Says
Counseling for Trauma, Grief at Ft. Hood
Ft. Hood Shooting: Composure Under Fire
List of Fort Hood Dead, Wounded

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Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.