"A statesman is any politician it's considered…

“A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after” was printed in the “Senator Soaper” syndicated newspaper column in October 1966. “Senator Soaper Says” was started by Harry Vincent Wade (1894-1973) of the Detroit (MI) News, who was then followed in 1953 by William E. (“Bill”) Vaughan (1915-1977). Vaughan was known for many popular aphorisms.

Wikipedia: William E. Vaughan
William E. (“Bill”) Vaughan (October 8, 1915 – February 25, 1977) was an American columnist and author. Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, he wrote a syndicated column for the Kansas City Star from 1946 until his death in 1977. He was published in Reader’s Digest and Better Homes and Gardens under the pseudonym Burton Hillis. He attended Washington University in St. Louis.

His folksy aphorisms (published in his “Starbeams” feature) are often collected in books and on Internet sites.

16 October 1966, Shreveport (LA) Times, “Senator Soaper,” pg. 2B, col. 7:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.

Google News Archive
17 October 1966, The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), “Senator Soaper,” pg. 4, col. 5:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.

19 October 1966, Walla Walla (WA) Union Bulletin, “Senator Soaper,” pg. 10, col. 4:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.

Google News Archive
26 August 1976, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), “Shop with Sue,” pg. 2, col. 6 ad:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.

Google Books
Pocket Smiles
By Robert C. Savage
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House
1984
Pg. 108:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.

Google Books
Read My Quips
By Vernon K. McLellan
Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers
1991
Pg. 47:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after — Bill Vaughn

Google Books
Peter’s Quotations:
Ideas for Our Times
By Laurence J. Peter
New York, NY: Quill/Morrow
1993
Pg. 226:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after. — Bill Vaughan

Google Books
The Little Book of Humorous Quotes
Edited by Malcolm Kushner
The Little Quote Books (littlequotebooks.com)
2011
Pg. 69:
A statesman is any politician it’s considered safe to name a school after.
~Bill Vaughn