-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fua/NIBWPIIeuEJW0lu3eeGysbYkxv2eeB/F8PNZEQoKToWv6viyne15iBuJ36Rr
 rOmKR5kyRjab19inCTLsNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001325403-10-000005.txt : 20100106
<SEC-HEADER>0001325403-10-000005.hdr.sgml : 20100106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100106154221
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001325403-10-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hogan Karen Hanovice
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001325403

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21380
		FILM NUMBER:		10511532

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		905 N. BEDFORD DRIVE
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245648
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		STREET 2:		C/O FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE INC
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(626) 795-7300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		STREET 2:		C/O FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE INC
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-04</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>0001325403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hogan Karen Hanovice</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 EAST COLORADO BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 720</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</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>2010-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>375</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.5944</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chad Conwell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>flcpoahogan.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 Chad C. Conwell, Donald F. Crumrine and Robert M.
Ettinger (with full power to act alone) her true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for her and on her
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 chnages 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 herself might or could do.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set
her hand this day of December, 2009.




Name: Karen H. Hogan
Title:   Director, Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Total Return
Fund Incorporated


EXPIRES:  February 1, 2011
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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