| 100% | EDUCATION | 9 | "___ is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom" —George Washington Carver |
| 39% | ANTHONYFAUCI | 12 | Medical advisor to every president since Ronald Reagan who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2008 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | TWO | 3 | Placement number of letters missing from the question, which are the key to the contest answer |
| 37% | DANTON | 6 | Georges who was a key member of the Jacobin Club, along with Robespierre and Marat |
| 36% | WILLIAMSAFIRE | 13 | Journalist who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush (2 wds.) |
| 35% | DAVIDBRINKLEY | 13 | Journalist who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H.W. Bush (2 wds.) |
| 35% | CLOONEY | 7 | George ___, "Ticket to Paradise" actor who is the co-founder of the alcohol brand Casamigos Tequila |
| 35% | IGNITION | 8 | Part of a vehicle the key is pushed in to start it |
| 35% | GARDEN | 6 | ___ of the Hesperides, location from Greek legends that is home to the golden apples |
| 35% | CAPRESE | 7 | Insalata whose key ingredients happen to be the colors of the Italian flag |
| 34% | GREATGRANDNIECE | 15 | Eugenia Washington (co-founder of the Daughters of the American Revolution), to George Washington |
| 34% | MBA | 3 | Pres. George W. Bush was the only president to hold one of these degs. |
| 34% | FAREWELL | 8 | ___ Address, letter written by George Washington as a parting message to the citizens of USA |
| 34% | AVOCADO | 7 | This fruit is the key to guacamole |
| 32% | DAILYPLANET | 11 | Publication that is the key to this puzzle's theme |
| 32% | MUDD | 4 | Roger whose 2008 memoir is titled "The Place to Be: Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of Television News" |
| 32% | REPRONUNCIATION | 15 | Key to understanding the theme of this puzzle |
| 32% | AMES | 4 | College town of George Washington Carver |
| 32% | BOWLING | 7 | Sport that is the key to interpreting the answers to 21-, 40- and 56-Across |
| 32% | BACKFIRE | 8 | To have the opposite effect of what was intended |
| 32% | SEEINGRED | 9 | Being angry enough to visualize the color of blood |
| 32% | MACLEAN | 7 | Alistair __, novelist of Fear is the Key |
| 32% | STOOP | 5 | Bend to go through a doorway, say ... or what may be in front of the door |
| 32% | FORTLEE | 7 | New Jersey city on the west side of the George Washington Bridge |
| 32% | FTLEE | 5 | N.J. city at the west end of the George Washington Bridge |
| 32% | TONI | 4 | Morrison who said, "The function of freedom is to free someone else" |
| 32% | FOB | 3 | Gizmo that might be the key to getting you in your car? |
| 31% | TAB | 3 | The key to the left of Q in a keyboard |
| 31% | ESC | 3 | Key to the left of F1 |
| 31% | TAB | 3 | Key to the left of Q |