Lug case left by old president (5-4)

I believe the answer is:

shell-like

'lug' is the definition.
(both are informal terms for 'ear')

'case left by old president' is the subsidiary indication.
'case' becomes 'shell' (shell is a kind of case**).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'old president' becomes 'ike' (nickname of Dwight Eisenhower).
'shell'+'l'+'ike'='shelllike'

(Another definition for shell-like that I've seen is " Ear (slang)".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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