Crossword Puzzle Barely best

Clue: Barely best

Nixon bested him (HUMPHREY with 8 letters)
Bestial bellows (ROARS with 5 letters)
Bests or worsts (BEATS with 5 letters)
Barely legible handwriting (CHICKENSCRATCH with 14 letters)
___ out (made, but barely) (EKED with 4 letters)
Barely able to talk (HOARSE with 6 letters)
Barely visible stars (DLIST with 5 letters)
It barely beats a deuce (TREY with 4 letters)
Name bestowed by Darth Sidious (VADER with 5 letters)
1995 bestseller in which #23 is "Don't Date a Married Man" (THERULES with 8 letters)