Lana, that is true - but Senator Geary clearly held Michael in utter contempt, as evidenced by this exchange:


GEARY
Yeah, well let's cut out the bull---t. I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to. You can have the license, the price is 250,000 dollars. Plus a monthly payment of 5% of the gross -- of all four hotels. Mister -- Corleone. {he said his name in a mocking Italian accent}

MICHAEL
Now the price of the license is less than 20,000 dollars, am I right?

GEARY
That's right.

MICHAEL
Now why would I ever consider paying more than that?

GEARY
Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country in your oily hair -- dressed up in those silk suits - and try to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I'll do business with you, but the fact is, I despise your masquerade -- the dishonest way you pose yourself. Yourself, and your whole f--king family.


I maintain that his quest for (real) legitimacy was driving him.