| CHECKER | Game piece associated with 71-Across |
| CIGAR | Puff piece associated with this puzzle's four long answers |
| FUGUE | Style of musical piece associated with Bach (5) |
| MERCURYDIME | *Ten-cent piece associated with a Roman god |
| ETUDE | Short but difficult piano test piece associated with Clementi and Chopin (5) |
| NOCTURNES | Romantic pieces associated with Chopin (9) |
| JONATHANEDWARDS | Singer/songwriter with '71 smash "Sunshine" |
| THERESA | Second woman to become British prime minister - With 71- |
| INSIDE | With 71-Across, one way to think (with a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| HASH | With 71-Across, symbol used four times in this puzzle with four different meanings |
| ROSS | With 71-Across, Antarctic bay |
| SILENT | With 71-Across, pretalkies time |
| TITLE | With 71-Across, event for today's puzzle's circles |
| ACHRISTMAS | With 71-Across, holiday classic |
| REMEMBRANCEOF | With 71 Across, a beer drinker's bio? |
| HAVEUGANDA | With 71 Across, query to an ailing African? |
| YES | With 71-Across, boot camp affirmative |
| PLAY | With 71-Across, act all-powerful |
| AMRICANCRIM | With 71-Across, 2016, 2018 |
| BAD | With 71 Across, intimidating interrogator |
