POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  That the  undersigned  Director of The
Equitable Life Assurance  Society of the United States,  a New York  corporation
(the  "Company"),  hereby  constitutes  and  appoints  each of Robert E. Garber,
Pauline Sherman, Stuart L. Faust, Richard V. Silver, Henry Q. Conley and Adam R.
Spilka as his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with full power of
substitution,  for  him  and in his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities,  to sign the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K and any or all
amendments  thereto,  and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto and other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in
and about the  premises,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes as he might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorney-in-fact  and agent,  or his  substitute  may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has  hereunto  st his hand this
____________ day of February, 1999.



/s/Henri de Castries                         /s/Michael Hegarty
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Francoise Colloc'h                        /s/Nina Henderson
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Joseph L. Dionne                          /s/W. Edwin Jarmain
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Denis Duverne                             /s/George T. Lowy
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Jean-Rene Fourtou                         /s/Edward D. Miller
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Norman C. Francis                         /s/Didier Pineau-Valencienne
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/Donald J. Greene                          /s/George J. Sella, Jr.
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/John T. Hartley                           /s/Peter J. Tobin
- ---------------------------------------      -----------------------------------


/s/John H. F. Haskell, Jr.                   /s/Stanley B. Tulin
                                             -----------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------


                                             /s/Dave H. Williams
                                             -----------------------------------