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.


/s/Claude Bebear                            /s/John H. F. Haskell, Jr.
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/s/Christopher J. Brocksom                  /s/Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
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/s/Francoise Colloc'h                       /s/W. Edwin Jarmain
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/s/Henri de Castries                        /s/G. Donald Johnston, Jr.
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/s/Joseph L. Dionne                         /s/Winthrop Knowlton
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/s/William T. Esrey                         /s/Arthur L. Liman
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/s/Jean-Rene Fourtou                        /s/George T. Lowy
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/s/Norman C. Francis                        /s/William T. McCaffrey
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/s/Donald J. Greene                         /s/Didier Pineau-Valencienne
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/s/John T. Hartley                          /s/George J. Sella, Jr.
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                                            /s/Dave H. Williams
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