The Wartime Origins of The New York Times Crossword Puzzle

Will Shortz, editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle, joins us to discuss the 75th anniversary of the paper’s legendary puzzle. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, a New York Times editor decided to introduce the crossword puzzle to the paper in response to “an audience in need of relaxation.” Although crossword puzzles were already popular activities, they hadn’t appeared in The New York Times until February 1942.