-----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,
 HVXLcaoKkF4y1SMnbGk55Np8U06f9v/EY0IP+1rE4fpbMiwRGx/NNUmaBD79dj+n
 9JPQGyqUNMtcXw0nEscTqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252912-05-000001.txt : 20050404
<SEC-HEADER>0001252912-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050404
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050404144947
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252912-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050404
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050404
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050404

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245648
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		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:			STIMES PETER C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252912

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21380
		FILM NUMBER:		05729253

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6267957300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-04</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>0001252912</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STIMES PETER C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Chief Compliance Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.53</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter C. Stimes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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