<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 24
THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.
Registration Statement
On Form S-8
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned hereby appoint Kenneth M.Vittor and Scott L. Bennett, or
either of them, their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with authority to
execute in the name of each such person and in each capacity stated below, and
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Corporation's
Registration Statement on Form S-8 in the form which the Corporation deems
appropriate for the purpose of registering, pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, 9,530,950 additional shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00
per share, of the Corporation issuable in connection with the 1993 Employee
Stock Incentive Plan and to execute and file in the name of each such person and
in each capacity stated below, from time to time, all amendments, including
post-effective amendments, and all supplements to such Registration Statement,
which the Corporation deems appropriate.
This Power of Attorney may be executed in counterparts, all of which, taken
together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
/s/ Harold McGraw III
-----------------------
Harold McGraw III Principal Executive
Officer and Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Robert J. Bahash
----------------------
Robert J. Bahash Principal Financial
Officer June 28, 2000
/s/ Talia G. Griep
----------------------
Talia G. Griep Controller June 28, 2000
/s/ Pedro Aspe
----------------------
Pedro Aspe Director June 28, 2000
--------------------------
Winfried F.W. Bischoff Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Vartan Gregorian
----------------------
Vartan Gregorian Director June 28, 2000
/s/ George B. Harvey
----------------------
George B. Harvey Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Linda Koch Lorimer
----------------------
Linda Koch Lorimer Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Robert P. McGraw
----------------------
Robert P. McGraw Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Lois Dickson Rice
----------------------
Lois Dickson Rice Director June 28, 2000
/s/ James H. Ross
----------------------
James H. Ross Director June 28, 2000
/s/ Sidney Taurel
----------------------
Sidney Taurel Director June 28, 2000
