02.17.08 -- Presidents

Sunday, February 17, 2008

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POLITICAL LEADERS, Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz

Ten presidents, ADAMS, BUSH, CARTER, HARRISON, HAYES, MONROE, PIERCE, TAFT, TAYLOR, and WILSON are the “political leader” half of partial-entry anagrams in today’s crossword -- no greatness here! In any event, a topical puzzle for President’s Day.

SCRAMBLED (19A. With 105-Across, what the answer to each starred clue starts with) PRESIDENT (105A. See 19-Across) and the inter-related across entries of ONEMORETIME (21. *Again); SAYHEYKID (23. *Baseball’s Willie Mays, with “the”); HUSBANDTOBE (24. *Fiancé); DAMASCUSSTEEL (53. *Metal used for swords); FATTEDCALF (58. *Symbol of rejoicing for someone’s long-awaited return); TERRACOTTA (61. *Brownish-orange); PRICEEARNINGS (68. *Kind of ratio); SLOWINGDOWN (100. *Decelerating); ROYALTIES (102. *Composer’s due); RAINORSHINE (104. *Whatever happens) are their hiding places -- most of them needing one! Especially this one HERE!

Well, it is an election year!

Other Across: 1. Words “beautifully marked in currants” in “Alice in Wonderland”; 6. Common ERA; 9. Make an example of; 13. Destination in Genesis 8; 25. Glycerides, e.g.; 26. Football Hall-of-Famer Ernie; 28. Home of Faa’s International Airport; 29. Lie; 30. Jury pool; 31. Watch-crystal holder; 32. Villain; 33. Ring results, briefly; 34. Bigwig; 38. “Awesome!”; 41. Next-to-last round; 42. Little of France?; 43. St. Louis, e.g.; 44. Brawl motivator; 45. Crunch’s title; 46. Rod holders; 50. Photocopier choice; 51. Hollow-point ammo; 55. Stage awards; 56. Butlers and maids; 57. Be about to fall; 65. Lady-in-waiting in “Othello”; 66. Lovers of expensive furs may put them on; 67. West Coast wine city; 72. Divine; 74. New York’s LUNT-Fontanne Theater; 75. Supermarket lines? 77. Hoop grp.; 78. Alma mater for Neil Armstrong and Pat Nixon: Abbr.; 769. Close of day, to poets; 80. Gutter locale; 81. Thomas Mann’s “Der TOD in Venedig”; 82. Attempts; 85. With 20-Down, airshow activities; 86. Jim who wrote “Ball Four”; 88. Indy champ Bobby; 90. Dentist’s concern; 91. COIGN of vantage (good position for viewing); 96. Split; 98. Split; 99. Like wiping one’s dirty mouth on one’s sleeve; 106. Cantankerous; 107. Not including; 108. Inexact fig.; 109. Magazine holders.

Down: 1. Mississippi quartet; 2. ACAST of thousands; 3. “TRYTO Remember”; 4. “Real Time” moderator; 5. Tip reducer?; 6. Variety of leather; 7. Exercised power over; 8. All the parts of a column except the bottom; 9. Stick; 10. Accustom; 11. Actress Harper; 12. Diplomats’ place: Abbr.; 13. Ball handler?; 14. “Not I!” hearer; 15. Titular Verdi role; 16. Laugh-a-minute; 17. Both: Prefix; 18. Curling goal; 20. See 85-Across; 22. Author of the Oprah’s Book Club selection “We Were the Mulvaneys”; 27. I’s opposite on a clock; 30. Improvises; 31. Bar personnel; 32. Light from a headlight; 33. Rears; 35. Cracker topper; 36. What 35-Down may do; 37. Jessica of “7th Heaven”; 38. Done with; 39. Tourist mecca near Venezuela; 40. Relinquish; 41. Passing remark?; 42. Sch. Fair organizer; 46. Schumacher of auto racing; 47. The “E” in H.R.E.: Abbr.; 48. Violinist Mischa; 49. This, in Havana; 50. Cox’s call; 52. Spot; 53. Manhattan street leading to the Williamsburg Bridge; 54. Guarantees; 56. Sensory receptor in the ear; 59. “Mon DIEU!”; 60. Loud, abrupt sound; 61. Dog of old comics; 62. Denier’s reply; 63. Aerobics technique; 64. Winning; 66. +; 68. +; 69. Impair through inactivity; 70. Atahualpa, e.g.; 71. It may be + or -; 72. Act of kindness; 73. Soothsayer’s subject; 76. “Death in the Afternoon” figures; 80. Muse of music; 83. Creator of “Hagar the Horrible”; 84. Hero; 85. Part of many a Halloween outfit; 86. Noble partner; 87. Fictional TV planet; 89. HENRY Fleming, central character in “The Red Badge of Courage”; 90. Dots on a map; 91. Home of 67-Across: Abbr.; 92. Top; 93. Not so friendly; 94. Capital of East Flanders; 95. Fits (inside); 96. Reed instrument: Abbr.; 97. Pork cut; 98. Liver in Lyon; 99. Braggadocio; 100. “No seats left”; 101. FedEx competitor; 103. Still.

Two Shortzesque clues in one puzzle! -- CLOVEN (96A. Split) with FORKED (98A. Split), and AHEAD (64D. +) with PLUS (68D. +), along with a few good sports and entertainment clues with their answers is all it took to keep me happy -- I'm easy! The first entry, EATME, was the easiest -- after that, I had to run a circle around the center, just couldn't see I'd had a B instead of a C for HAIRCELL and UPCCODE. Also, I cross the Williamsburg Bridge a dozen times a year and couldn't come up with DELANCEY. Now I know!

Linda of Madness...Crossword and Otherwise covers the rest of the puzzle in her delightful write-up. Hope one and all have a good day off for President's Day -- I'll end it here before I start beating around the Bush!

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