Crossword Genius

Console the chief men in government (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cabinet

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'console' is the definition.
(I know that console can be written as cabinet)

'the chief men in government' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
'in' is within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cabinet that I've seen before include "sort of pudding" , "Cupboard; committee" , "Item of furniture for storage or display" , "Peel once topped this" , "PM's team" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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