POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, hereby appoints
Frank J. Nasta or Albert A. Pisano, attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for in name and stead, to sign and file
Forms 3, 4 and 5 (Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities,
Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership, and Annual Statement of Changes in
Beneficial Ownership of Securities promulgated under Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934), with respect to my holdings in TRI-
CONTINENTAL CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation, 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. This appointment shall be valid for the sole purpose
stated above and shall be in effect and force, unless sooner revoked by me in
writing.

        Executed this twelfth day of July 2004.





John H. Clark