<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>cert906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>906 CERT
<TEXT>





         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 30A-2(B) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND
                     SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

I,  Donald F.  Crumrine,  Director,  Chairman  of the Board and Chief  Executive
Officer of Flaherty &  Crumrine/Claymore  Total  Return Fund  Incorporated  (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    JULY 28, 2009             /S/ DONALD F. CRUMRINE
     -----------------            ----------------------------------------------
                                   Donald F. Crumrine, Director, Chairman of the
                                   Board and Chief Executive Officer
                                   (principal executive officer)


I, R. Eric Chadwick,  Chief Financial Officer,  Treasurer, and Vice President of
Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore  Total Return Fund Incorporated (the "Registrant"),
certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    JULY 28, 2009             /S/ R. ERIC CHADWICK
     -----------------            ----------------------------------------------
                                   R. Eric Chadwick, Chief Financial Officer,
                                   Treasurer, and Vice President
                                   (principal financial officer)





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
