"A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years"

This quote by Harry S. Truman is an amusing method of highlighting the distinction in between a politician and a statesman. A politician is someone who is actively involved in the federal government and understands the functions of it. A statesman, on the other hand, is somebody who has been dead for 15 years and is no longer actively involved in the government. This quote implies that a political leader is someone who is actively involved in the government and understands it, while a statesman is somebody who is no longer actively involved in the federal government and is kept in mind for their accomplishments. It also implies that a statesman is somebody who is remembered for their accomplishments and is respected for their contributions to society. This quote is a humorous way of highlighting the distinction between a politician and a statesman and the value of being remembered for one's achievements.