POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  director  of  Seligman
Tri-Continental Corporation, a Maryland corporation, which proposes to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission an Amendment to Registration Statement on
Form N-2 and further amendments thereto, as necessary,  under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  hereby constitutes
and appoints William C. Morris and Brian T. Zino, and each of them individually,
his   attorneys-in-fact   and  agent,   with  full  power  of  substitution  and
resubstitution,  for in his name and stead, in his capacity as such director, to
sign and file such  Amendment to  Registration  Statement or further  amendments
thereto,  and any and all  applications  or other documents to be filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  pertaining  thereto,  with full power and
authority to do and perform all acts and things  requisite  and  necessary to be
done on the premises.

Executed this 15th day of March, 2001.


                                                    /s/ Leroy C. Richie
                                               -------------------------------
                                                        Leroy C. Richie