The excitation of the double-phonon giant dipole resonance was observed in heavy projectile nuclei impinging on targets of high nuclear charge with energies of 500–700 MeV/nucleon. New experimental data are presented for [Formula Presented] and [Formula Presented] together with further analysis of earlier data on [Formula Presented] Differential cross sections [Formula Presented] and [Formula Presented] for electromagnetic excitations were deduced. Depending on the isotope, cross sections appear to be enhanced in comparison to those expected from a purely harmonic nuclear dipole response. The cumulative effect of excitations of two-phonon states composed of one dipole and one quadrupole phonon, of predicted anharmonicities in the double-phonon dipole response, and of damping of the dipole resonance during the collision may account for the discrepancy. In addition, decay properties of two-phonon resonances were studied and compared to that of a statistical decay. © 2003 The American Physical Society.