-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 PNfChy8wWU9UawWjM3eUMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252913-03-000002.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0001252913-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218141207
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252913-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245648
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WULF ROBERT F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252913

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21380
		FILM NUMBER:		031061993

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3560 DEERFIELD D SOUTH
		CITY:			SALEM
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6267957300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3560 DEERFIELD DR S
		CITY:			SALEM
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001245648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLAHERTY &amp; CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WULF ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3560 DEERFIELD DR S</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97302</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald F. Crumrine</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>robertwulf.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>


POWER OF ATTORNEY


	KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose name
appears below nominates, constitutes and appoints Donald F.
Crumrine, Robert M. Ettinger and Peter C. Stimes (with full power
to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for
him and on his behalf and in his place and stead in any and all
capacities, to execute any and all filings on Form 4 (Statement of
Changes of Beneficial Ownership of Securities) pursuant to Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 30(h) of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("Form 4 Filings")
with respect to changes of beneficial ownership of securities of
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (the
"Fund"), and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
The New York Stock Exchange and the Fund such Form 4 Filings,
granting unto said attorney, full power and authority to do and
perform certain acts and things requisite and necessary to be done
in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as
the undersigned himself might or could do.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his
hand this 18th day of July, 2003.



/s/ Robert F. Wulf
Name: Robert F. Wulf
Title:   Director, Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Total Return Fund
Incorporated


EXPIRES:  February 28, 2004


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
