A Clever Crossword
On Nov. 5, 1996, (which was Election Day for the presidency of the United States) the popular New York Times crossword puzzle included a surprising clue:
39 [Across]. Lead story in tomorrow’s newspaper (!), with 43 [Across]
The answer for 43 Across was ELECTED. But which presidential candidate fit in 39 Across – and presumably was the winner of the presidential election?
In fact there was not one answer but two. Rather than predict the outcome of the election, the writer of the crossword had managed to make it possible for CLINTON to work and for BOBDOLE to work, by changing the answers to the respective seven down clues.
