EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ John R. Walter
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          John R. Walter

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ William L. White
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          William L. White

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Martha Layne Collins
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Martha Layne Collins
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ James R. Donnelley
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          James R. Donnelley
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Charles C. Haffner III
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Charles C. Haffner III
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Robert A. Hanson
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Robert A. Hanson

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Thomas S. Johnson
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Thomas S. Johnson
 
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Richard M. Morrow
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Richard M. Morrow

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ John M. Richman
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          John M. Richman
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ William D. Sanders
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          William D. Sanders
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Jerre L. Stead
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Jerre L. Stead
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ Bide L. Thomas
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Bide L. Thomas
 

 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Frank R. Jarc and David C.
Hart, and each of them with full power to act without the other, his or her
true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority, for the
purpose of executing, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
director and/or officer of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights and any and all amendments to
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to
deliver on behalf of the undersigned such Registration Statement and any and
all amendments thereto, as each thereof is so executed, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned hereby grants unto each
such attorney-in-fact full power of substitution and revocation in the premises
and hereby ratifies and confirms all that each such attorney-in-fact may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
 
Dated: March 24, 1994
 
                                          /s/ H. Blair White
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          H. Blair White