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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-08-000839.txt : 20080128
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-08-000839.hdr.sgml : 20080128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080128153733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-08-000839
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	AW
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080128
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080128

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:		AW
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-139605
		FILM NUMBER:		08553945

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 451-1100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>AW
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>y47445awaw.htm
<DESCRIPTION>APPLICATION FOR WITHDRAWAL OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
<TEXT>
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<HEAD>
<TITLE>AW</TITLE>
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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">THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.<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: 6pt"><U><B>VIA EDGAR</B></U>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">January&nbsp;25, 2008

</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

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">Re:</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.<br>
<U>Application for Withdrawal of Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 (Accession No.
0000950123-07-016174) to Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;N-2 (File Nos. 333-139605,
811-05620)</U></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Ladies and Gentleman:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Based on discussions between the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#147;Commission&#148;) and our counsel at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
&#147;Registrant&#148;) hereby applies for the withdrawal of the Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 (Accession
No.&nbsp;0000950123-07-016174) filed with the Commission on
November&nbsp;30, 2007 (&#147;Post-Effective Amendment
No.&nbsp;1&#148;), to the Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form N-2. This application for
withdrawal is being filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 477(a) under the Securities Act of
1933 (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). We believe that the withdrawal
of Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 is
consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors because that amendment sought
the de-registration of certain shares of the Registrant for an offering which has ceased, and in
discussions with the staff of the Commission, an alternate method of effecting such de-registration
pursuant to Rule 486(b) under the Securities Act has been proposed and will be utilized by the
Registrant.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please direct any inquiries regarding this application to Daren R. Domina, Katten Muchin
Rosenman LLP, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, (212)&nbsp;940-6517.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Very truly yours,
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;George&nbsp;R.&nbsp;Aylward&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
</DIV>


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