NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has a new pastime far from fund raising for worthy causes -- designing a crossword puzzle for The New York Times.

Clinton wrote the clues for an online crossword puzzle published this weekend by the Times, filled with puns, pop culture references and plays on words.

The theme of the puzzle is "Twistin' the Oldies," with clues seeking updated versions for baby boomers of musical hits by artists such as Neil Sedaka and Carly Simon.

In an editor's note, Times' puzzle editor Will Shortz wrote: "The clues in this puzzle are a little more playful and involve more wordplay than in a typical crossword. You have been warned."

Shortz told Reuters the Times gave Clinton the puzzle grid and the theme, and the former president provided the clues. Shortz said he did very little editing.

"I wanted it to be Clinton's voice, not my voice," Shortz said. "I touched up a few things here and there, but basically what President Clinton wrote for the clues is what appears in the puzzle.

"His clues make you laugh out loud," he added. "He's got a flair for this."