Crossword Genius

Old statesman and Commander-in-Chief meeting Cockney super-guy (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cicero

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'old statesman' is the definition.
(Roman politician)

'commander-in-chief meeting cockney super-guy' is the wordplay.
'commander-in-chief' becomes 'CIC' (abbreviation).
'meeting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'cockney super guy' becomes 'ero' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'cic'+'ero'='CICERO'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cicero that I've seen before include "Old Roman statesman and orator" , "Roman orator, author" , "Roman lawyer" , "Roman orator; type size above pica" , "wartime spy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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