Pat Geary
Encyclopedia
Pat Geary is a fictional character portrayed by G. D. Spradlin
in the film The Godfather Part II
. He is a U.S. senator
from Nevada
whose corruption
and moral vices
are exploited by Michael Corleone
.
At the beginning of the film, set in 1958, Geary and his wife attend the First Communion
celebration for the son of Michael Corleone, the head of the Corleone crime family
. Geary publicly accepts a contribution in the name of Anthony Corleone
(Michael's son) ostensibly as a donation for the local public university. While speaking before the large gathering, Geary mispronounces the boy's middle and last names and initially misnames Michael Corleone's wife Kay as Pat.
After the public ceremony, Geary meets with Michael in his office. The Corleone family had obtained control of several casino
s in Nevada. Geary offers to help Michael obtain a disputed gaming license in exchange for an exorbitant bribe, and launching into a vitriolic and bigoted attack on Michael, the Corleone family, and Italian American
s in general, calling them "oily-haired" and "dirty". He says that he despises Michael and all he stands for and that he "intend[s] to squeeze" the Corleone family for all he can get. He gives Michael a day to respond to his offer. As Geary heads for the door, Michael responds by telling Geary that he should get them the license for free, and for Geary to pay the $20,000 licensing fee out of his own pocket. Geary then insults Michael again and leaves the room.
Some time later, Geary spends the night with a prostitute in a brothel
run by Michael's brother Fredo
in the Nevada desert. Having suffered from an alcoholic blackout, he awakens in a bed covered in blood next to the woman, who is dead. Corleone family consigliere
Tom Hagen
arrives on the scene and tells a terrified Geary that since the woman has no family, the matter can be safely covered up. Hagen promises Geary, "All that will be left is our friendship." It is implied that the Corleones have engineered this situation, perhaps through drugging Geary. Michael's personal assassin, Al Neri
, is seen in the bathroom wiping his hands with a towel, indicating that it was he who murdered the prostitute.
Subsequently, it appears that the Corleones' "help" with the incident (in other words, blackmail
) sways Geary to the Corleone family's side. When Michael goes to Havana
for a meeting with Hyman Roth
and other crime bosses, he also takes the time to associate with several influential figures in government, law, and business. Geary is among this latter group; he greets Michael warmly during a New Year's Eve
party held by the Cuban President, Fulgencio Batista
, and later joins them in going to see a live sex show
. When chaos erupts on the streets as Fidel Castro
comes to power, Geary can be heard loudly demanding entry into the U.S. Embassy.
Later in the movie, Geary is seen serving on a Senate committee that is investigating organized crime
, and which could potentially send Michael to prison. He asks Corleone soldato
Willie Cicci about the layers of management ("buffers") which protect Michael from direct criminal involvement. Later, on the day of Michael's testimony, Geary speaks in defense of Italian-Americans to the assembled television cameras, denouncing the stereotyping
of them as criminals. However, he absents himself from the hearing before Michael testifies. It is revealed in The Godfather's Revenge
that he remains under the family's control well into the 1960s.
Geary also makes an appearance in the video game The Godfather II
. Dominic, the player character, meets with Geary to persuade him to visit the brothel. Hagen instructs Dominic to create a fake business deal to gain the Senator's trust. Dominic mentions that his "partners" have prostitution businesses across the country before suggesting Geary visit a local brothel that he controls. Dominic then joins Tom the next morning, speaking to Geary after his horrific discovery.
G. D. Spradlin
Gervase Duan "G.D." Spradlin was an American actor. He often played devious authority figures. He is credited in over 70 television and film productions, and performed alongside actors including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, and George C. Scott.-Early life:Spradlin was born in Pauls...
in the film The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
. He is a U.S. senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
whose corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and moral vices
Vice
Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a defect, an infirmity, or merely a bad habit. Synonyms for vice include fault, depravity, sin, iniquity, wickedness, and corruption...
are exploited by Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
.
At the beginning of the film, set in 1958, Geary and his wife attend the First Communion
First Communion
The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church...
celebration for the son of Michael Corleone, the head of the Corleone crime family
Corleone family
The Corleone family is a fictional Sicilian Mafia family settled in New York City. The family was created by Mario Puzo and appears in his 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as the acclaimed film trilogy of the same name directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The family was founded by Vito Corleone , who...
. Geary publicly accepts a contribution in the name of Anthony Corleone
Anthony Corleone
Anthony "Tony" Vito Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, and singer Franc D'Ambrosio in the third...
(Michael's son) ostensibly as a donation for the local public university. While speaking before the large gathering, Geary mispronounces the boy's middle and last names and initially misnames Michael Corleone's wife Kay as Pat.
After the public ceremony, Geary meets with Michael in his office. The Corleone family had obtained control of several casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in Nevada. Geary offers to help Michael obtain a disputed gaming license in exchange for an exorbitant bribe, and launching into a vitriolic and bigoted attack on Michael, the Corleone family, and Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
s in general, calling them "oily-haired" and "dirty". He says that he despises Michael and all he stands for and that he "intend[s] to squeeze" the Corleone family for all he can get. He gives Michael a day to respond to his offer. As Geary heads for the door, Michael responds by telling Geary that he should get them the license for free, and for Geary to pay the $20,000 licensing fee out of his own pocket. Geary then insults Michael again and leaves the room.
Some time later, Geary spends the night with a prostitute in a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
run by Michael's brother Fredo
Fredo Corleone
Frederico "Fredo" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the fictional universe of the novel and its film adaptation, he is the second son of Vito Corleone , head of a powerful Mafia family...
in the Nevada desert. Having suffered from an alcoholic blackout, he awakens in a bed covered in blood next to the woman, who is dead. Corleone family consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
Tom Hagen
Tom Hagen
Thomas "Tom" Feargal Hagen is a fictional character in the Godfather books and films. He was portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films. He is the informally adopted son of Don Vito Corleone and serves as the family lawyer and consigliere . Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he often serves as a voice of...
arrives on the scene and tells a terrified Geary that since the woman has no family, the matter can be safely covered up. Hagen promises Geary, "All that will be left is our friendship." It is implied that the Corleones have engineered this situation, perhaps through drugging Geary. Michael's personal assassin, Al Neri
Al Neri
Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright. In The Godfather: The Game, he is voiced by Gary Chalk...
, is seen in the bathroom wiping his hands with a towel, indicating that it was he who murdered the prostitute.
Subsequently, it appears that the Corleones' "help" with the incident (in other words, blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
) sways Geary to the Corleone family's side. When Michael goes to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
for a meeting with Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth is a fictional character, and the primary antagonist in The Godfather Part II, played by the actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role...
and other crime bosses, he also takes the time to associate with several influential figures in government, law, and business. Geary is among this latter group; he greets Michael warmly during a New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
party held by the Cuban President, Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
, and later joins them in going to see a live sex show
Sex show
A sex show is a form of live performance that features one or more performers engaging in some form of sexual activity on stage for the entertainment or sexual gratification of spectators. Performers are paid either by the spectators or by the organisers of the show. A performance would involve an...
. When chaos erupts on the streets as Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
comes to power, Geary can be heard loudly demanding entry into the U.S. Embassy.
Later in the movie, Geary is seen serving on a Senate committee that is investigating organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, and which could potentially send Michael to prison. He asks Corleone soldato
Soldato
A Soldato is the lowest level of the formal Mafia hierarchy, both in America and in Sicily. However, a soldier is much greater in rank and prestige than any ordinary associate of the crime family. In order to become a soldier, the primary requisite for an associate is to become a made man...
Willie Cicci about the layers of management ("buffers") which protect Michael from direct criminal involvement. Later, on the day of Michael's testimony, Geary speaks in defense of Italian-Americans to the assembled television cameras, denouncing the stereotyping
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
of them as criminals. However, he absents himself from the hearing before Michael testifies. It is revealed in The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge, a 2006 novel written by author Mark Winegardner, is the sequel to The Godfather, The Sicilian, and The Godfather Returns. The story takes place from 1963–1964, and picks up the story from where The Godfather Returns left off...
that he remains under the family's control well into the 1960s.
Geary also makes an appearance in the video game The Godfather II
The Godfather II (video game)
The Godfather II is a 2009 video game based on The Godfather Part II, a 1974 crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by Coppola and Mario Puzo. The game is published by Electronic Arts and was released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows...
. Dominic, the player character, meets with Geary to persuade him to visit the brothel. Hagen instructs Dominic to create a fake business deal to gain the Senator's trust. Dominic mentions that his "partners" have prostitution businesses across the country before suggesting Geary visit a local brothel that he controls. Dominic then joins Tom the next morning, speaking to Geary after his horrific discovery.