EXHIBIT (a)(2)(i)

                  CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, John P. Calamos, Sr., certify that:

            1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Calamos Strategic
               Total Return Fund;

            2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
               untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
               fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
               circumstances under which such statements were made, not
               misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

            3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
               financial information included in this report, fairly present
               in all material respects the financial condition, results of
               operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the
               financial statements are required to include a statement of
               cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
               presented in this report;

            4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible
               for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
               procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment
               Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

            a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
               disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
               supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
               registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
               known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
               the period in which this report is being prepared;

            b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
               controls and procedures and presented in this report our
               conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
               and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
               date of this report based on such evaluation; and

            c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
               control over financial reporting that occurred during the
               registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
               second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has
               materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
               affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
               reporting; and

            5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to
               the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
               registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
               equivalent functions):




            a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
               design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
               which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
               ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
               information; and

            b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
               other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
               internal control over financial reporting.


            Date: July 6, 2004
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                                                  /s/ John P. Calamos, Sr.
                                                ------------------------------
                                                 Principal Executive Officer