1. Useless cardinal man: Could it be "waste"? As in "waste of a cardinal man."
2. Grand them Eisenhower will identify Pence: How about "title"? Eisenhower had the title to identify Pence.
3. Intend to get the communist back for a mazy stroll: I think "revenge" fits here. It's like seeking revenge on the communist for a mazy stroll.
Hope these suggestions get you closer to completing your crossword! By the way, have you checked out the crossword celebrities' article
https://latimesnow.com/2023/05/30/heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-solve-every-nyt-crossword/ ? It gave me some great tips on solving crosswords faster.