Arthur had ingratiated himself to powerful New York politician and U.S. Senator Roscoe Conkling and to President Grant. This association paid off. Grant appointed him to the position of collector of the port of New York. In this job, he supervised the busiest port in the United States. He not only acquired a very nice salary, but he could obtain a piece of collected fees from those who did not pay the proper tariffs. Arthur served in this position from 1871 until 1878.