NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
August 18, 2019
Will Shortz

The same change can be made to the phrase and each of the following words  to give six new, related words.

1. USUAL
2. VIDEO
3. TITANIC
4. OPTICIAN
5. MERCHANDISE
6. PALACE TOUR

HINTS:
A. The change is to drop a single letter and re-arrange the remaining letters.
B. The new words will name historical figures.
C. The following are the letters to drop:
     USUAL - U
     VIDEO - E
     TITANIC - C
     OPTICIAN - I
     MERCHANDISE - N
     PALACE TOUR - U

Answers:

1. USUAL - SAUL
2. VIDEO - OVID
3. TITANIC - TITIAN
4. OPTICIAN - PONTIAC
5. MERCHANDISE - ARCHIMEDES
6. PALACE TOUR - CLEOPATRA