A three by two factorial experiment was conducted to test the effects of crisis communication strategy (mortification, bolstering, and corrective action) and performance history (positive and negative) in conjunction with a politicians faux pas involving racial remarks. Benoits image repair theory and Coombs dependent measures provided the theoretical and methodological framework for the experiment. In evaluations of a politicians behavior following racial remarks, strategy and performance history had main effects for several dependent variables, but these effects were independent of one another. Contrary to previous research, performance history was not always a factor in achieving favorable evaluations, and sometimes the communication strategy of bolstering was as effective as mortification. Generally, the corrective action strategy was the least effective. Politicians selection of effective crisis response strategies should be based on their specific situations.