Historical clue formulations

• Yellow-and-black ideogram — 2026-08-28
• Something often containing a single parenthesis — 2023-11-25
• :-) — 2020-06-16
• Joke indicator — 2008-04-05
• Symbol in Wal-Mart ads — 2007-07-26
• "I'm just kidding!" indicator — 2005-07-01
• Cutesy drawing — 2001-04-27
• Le Carre character George — 1997-05-27
• Le Carré protagonist — 1995-10-17