The Guy's an Empty Suit

I wonder where this expression came from and why we use this so often when describing politicians. There's that other one "Clothes make the man." Perhaps we could combine the two and come up with "Clothes ARE the man, the whole man." Then there's the expression "the Emperor has no clothes" another favorite in political punditry. So, going further with the clothes thing and being more specific about its application in those who govern us, Our leaders are without talent, good intentions, and insight, and their proposals are accepted like the naked emperor until the little boy in the back shouts out "The Emperor has no clothes!" Suits me. Case clothed.