Sat., 11/1 Victor Barocas

[magus]

THEME:   none
   
GOOD ONES:    
Rosencrantz or Guildenstern   ROLE   
Handy thing to have when you need a break?   POOL CUE   
Clinton had a big role in its construction   ERIE CANAL [not the libidinous one]   
Hard or soft finish?   WARE   
   
   
RATING:   
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun   

[Thomps2525]

Once again, a crossword clue has spurred me to do some research. DeWitt Clinton served as a Senator, Assemblyman, Mayor of New York City and Governor of New York and ran for President in 1812, narrowly losing to James Madison. Clinton pushed for construction of the Erie Canal to connect the east to the midwest. His opponents referred to the canal as "Clinton's ditch."

The answer to 20-across, "Haywire," is KABLOOIE. The word is not in the Merriam-Webster dictionary but I have seen it most often spelled as KABLOOEY. Does anyone have some old Huckleberry Hound, Quickdraw McGraw, Road Runner or Tom & Jerry comic books so we can double-check?