elder statesman

Despairing, he is consoled by an elder statesman of his party.

Will John McCain play the elder statesman on filibuster reform?

In reality, perhaps the elder statesman resigned from public life because he knew his luck had run out.

It marked the end of his presidential hopes and allowed him free rein to return to the Senate as an elder statesman.

As the wise elder statesman, Gingrich might yet be able to capture some of the gravitas that his opening weeks took away.

"You know what I think," said the elder statesman thoughtfully.

Even with the Labor Party in power he was a respected elder statesman.