One thing about that scene I never got was why a nited States Senator would allow all those witnesses to be in a room in which he says "I intend to squeeze you," so blatantly.
Probably a combination of ego and folly. "Let me show all these Eye-talians that I'm a man with
real power."
Yes. And it's part of his "native privilege":
Coppola accurately portrayed Geary's attitude as typical of Nevadans of that era who had family in the state for several generations. They thought they owned the state, and that they could make rules that applied only to them--and get away with them. Geary saw no anomaly in demanding a huge, illegal bribe because he was entitled to it--as a "native" squeezing the oily-haired, silk-suited upstart.
A similar and accurate depiction of that privilege is seen in "Casino," when County Commissioner Pat Webb tries to get Ace Rothstein to reinstate his no-good brother in law into a "juiced" job. When Rothstein refuses, Webb says, "You people will never understand that you're here as our guests, and I'll send you back to where you came from if I have to harelip the governor."
