NY Times Crossword
December 2, 2001
Nancy Nicholson Joline
(Title shown below)

What do the following words, names, and phrases have in common?

CRUSADE
THOUSAND
CIRCUS ACT
FAMOUS AMOS
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
TITUS ANDRONICUS

Answer:

Each word, name, or phrase contains the consecutive letters USA.

Puzzle title: CHEERS FOR UNCLE SAM

Note: Other entries: MEDUSA, SAUSAGE, SAUSALITO, JERUSALEM