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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-07-005600.txt : 20091204
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-07-005600.hdr.sgml : 20091204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070418160358
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-07-005600
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070418

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836412
		IRS NUMBER:				133474242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022-4728
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-272-2700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022-4728
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>ACCELERATION REQUEST</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.</B><BR>
900 Third Avenue<BR>
New York, New York 10022<BR>
(212)&nbsp;451-1100
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">April&nbsp;18, 2007
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U><B>VIA EDGAR</B></U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">United States Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
Division of Investment Management<BR>
Washington, DC 20549<BR>
Attn: Mr.&nbsp;Christian T. Sandoe, Senior Counsel

</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Re: <U>Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness of Registration Statement of The Zweig Total
Return Fund, Inc. on Form N-2, Pre-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 (File Nos. 333-139605 and
811-05620)</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Sandoe:
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;461 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the &#147;Fund&#148;) hereby requests that the
effective date of the above-referenced Registration Statement (the &#147;Filing&#148;) be accelerated so that
the Filing may become effective at 10:00&nbsp;A.M., Washington D.C. time, on April&nbsp;19, 2007, or as soon
thereafter as practicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Fund acknowledges that: (i)&nbsp;should the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#147;Commission&#148;) or the Commission staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Filing
effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Filing;
(ii)&nbsp;the action of the Commission or the Commission staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority,
in declaring the Filing effective, does not relieve the Fund from its full responsibility for the
adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Filing; and (iii)&nbsp;the Fund may not assert this
action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal
securities laws of the United States.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Very Truly Yours,<BR>&nbsp;<BR>
THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ George R. Aylward
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">George R. Aylward&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">President&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>


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