The New York Times crossword puzzle

Across

1 On VHS, say 6 Symbol in the middle of a Scrabble board 10 Nile viper 13 The “S” of NASA 14 Many a summer cottage locale 15 Engagement at 20 paces, maybe 16 Garment that might say “Kiss the cook” 17 Philosopher who said “Man is by nature a political animal” 19 “Montage of a Dream Deferred” poet 21 Pa Clampett of “The Beverly Hillbillies” 22 Ex-G.I. 23 Firebugs’ felonies 24 Vicodin, e.g. 27 Fitting 28 Sunshine unit 29 “The Interpretation of Dreams” writer 33 34 Macho sorts Dictator Amin 35 “HAHAHA!,” in texts 39 “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening” artist 42 National bird of Australia 45 Singer Carly ___ Jepsen 46 Thundered 47 Where Red Square is 49 Fish in a 26Down 51 Remarks around cute babies 52 “All I Have to Do Is Dream” singers 56 States of emergency 57 Self-evident truth 59 Chow 60 Show deference to an entering judge, say 61 ___ Park (Edison’s lab site) 62 Special intuition, for short 63 Beans high in protein 64 Early PC platform

Down

1 Org. with a 3.4-ounce container rule 2 Food symbolizing America 3 Exemplar 4 Class for a future M.B.A. 5 Mao’s successor 6 Roofing material 7 Fortuneteller’s deck 8 In the same mold as, with “to” 9 Mold anew 10 Orwell or Wells 11 Singer/actress Gomez 12 ___ v. Ferguson (1896 Supreme Court ruling) 15 Feet, slangily 18 John of “Do the Right Thing” 20 “Frozen” reindeer 21 Kid around 25 Iowa college town 26 Common sushi order 27 Superdry 30 Opposite of soar 31 Medicineapproving org. 32 Epitome of stupidity 36 Ingredient in Worcestershire sauce 37 38 What Lindbergh famously did New to Jar Paris tops from York 40 Many A.C.L.U. 41 staffers News item that its subject never reads 42 Come out 43 Businesses that tend to be busiest at the starts and ends of months 44 Depleted 48 Grouch 49 Bohemian 50 Sprays (down) 53 Pizazz 54 U.S. soccer great Mia 55 Strikes (out) 58 Rapper ___ Def