 At the conclusion of the war , McClellan and his family went to Europe ( not returning until 1868 ) , during which he did not participate in politics . When he returned , the Democratic Party expressed some interest in nominating him for president again , but when it became clear that Ulysses S. Grant would be the Republican candidate , this interest died . McClellan worked on engineering projects in New York City and was offered the position of president of the newly formed University of California . 
