| KOOP | Surgeon General under Reagan, who surprised both parties with his efforts to fight AIDS and smoking |
| BORNINTHEUSA | Springsteen tune used as a campaign song by Ronald Reagan, who misunderstood its message |
| DRKOOP | Surgeon General under Reagan |
| CABOT | Explorer who, during his efforts to find a direct route to Asia, became the first "modern" European |
| NESS | Eliot _, American Prohibition agent famous for his efforts to bring down Al Capone (4) |
| EMPEROR | Ruler who surprised his courtiers with his new clothes in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale |
| KEVINFEIGE | Marvel Studios president who surprised 12-Across with a call a couple of years ago asking him to reprise his famous role for TV: "My instinct was that he was calling about a charity thing" |
| CELINEDION | Megastar singer who surprised 1-Across at her Las Vegas residency on Saturday night |
| MEESE | Edwin ___ (Attorney General under Reagan) |
| EDMEESE | Attorney General under Reagan |
| GUYGIBSON | The real-life hero of The Dam Busters who won the VC for his efforts (3,6) |
| CRIBS | Illicit exam aids, and places where the first parts of the answers to starred clues can be found |
| BBQ | Cuisine with grilling and smoking |
| AUTHOR | His efforts have been brought to book (6) |
| KISSINGER | American statesman noted for his efforts in establishing ceasefire in Vietnam in 1973, Henry ... |
| COLOMBIA | 2016 winner Juan Manuel Santos won the Peace Prize for his efforts in ending the civil war in this country |
| BILATERAL | Dined with artist, bill's covered for both parties (9) |
| TOTANGO | Both parties equally responsible when couple are needed for the dance (2,5,3,2,5) |
| ITTAKESTWO | Both parties equally responsible when couple are needed for the dance (2,5,3,2,5) |
| THEPOWERSTHATBE | State where both parties initially upset those in authority (3,6,4,2) |
