NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>0007.txt
<TEXT>

                                                            EXHIBIT 10.15
                                                            -------------

            CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

        This Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release
   (hereinafter referred to as "Agreement") is made this 29th day of
   November, 2000, by and between John J. McDonough (hereinafter referred
   to as "McDonough") and Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. (hereinafter referred
   to as "Newell").

        WHEREAS, Newell decided to terminate McDonough's employment and
   McDonough thereafter submitted his resignation as an employee and
   director of Newell to be effective October 31, 2000; and

        WHEREAS, McDonough desires to secure the severance benefits as
   provided below; and recognizes that this package includes valuable
   consideration to which he would not otherwise be entitled; and

        WHEREAS, the parties desire to affect a final settlement of all
   matters relating to McDonough's employment and his relationship with
   Newell and have arrived at a compromise of all such matters.

        NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the foregoing and in consideration of
   the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and
   valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

        1.   Neither this Agreement nor any action taken by Newell
             pursuant to it shall in any way be construed as an admission
             by Newell of any liability, wrongdoing or violation of law,
             regulation, contract or policy.

        2.   Newell agrees to pay and/or provide to McDonough the
             following severance benefits in final settlement of all
             claims McDonough may have against Newell:

             a.   Severance pay will be paid to McDonough at his base
                  salary in effect on October 31, 2000, on normal pay
                  periods less all legally required withholding for taxes
                  and social security through December 31, 2000.  Such
                  payments will begin after the passage of seven (7) days
                  following McDonough's execution of this Agreement.

             b.   McDonough will be eligible for a full year 2000 bonus
                  based upon his participation in the Newell Rubbermaid
                  Bonus Plan pursuant to the provisions of that Plan and
                  will be paid that bonus, if any, at the same time other
                  participants are paid.

             c.   Medical and dental group coverage will be continued for
                  McDonough through December 31, 2000, on the same basis
                  as such benefits are provided to existing employees at
                  his level.  McDonough will remain responsible for the
                  partial payment of premiums to the extent that existing





                  employees pay such premiums and such payments will be
                  deducted from severance payments.  With regard to
                  medical and dental coverage, McDonough and his covered
                  dependents have been offered and have elected to
                  continue medical and dental coverage under the
                  Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
                  For those purposes, the date of the qualifying event
                  will be January 1, 2001.  Thereafter, McDonough may
                  continue coverage through June 30, 2002, at his own
                  expense.  Should McDonough desire, Newell agrees to
                  deduct premiums for continued Coverage from McDonough's
                  final payroll check.

             d.   All stock options held by McDonough pursuant to the
                  Newell Rubbermaid Stock Option Plan as of October 31,
                  2000, that are not vested will vest pursuant to the
                  terms of that Plan as if McDonough was a participant in
                  the Plan and McDonough may exercise stock options held
                  at any time prior to the expiration date of such
                  options.  No further stock options will be granted to
                  McDonough.

             e.   McDonough's rights under the Newell Operating Company
                  Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key Executives as
                  restated effective January 1, 1999 are governed by the
                  terms of that plan.

             f.   McDonough's rights to distribution from his account, if
                  any, in the Newell Co. Deferred Compensation Plan are
                  governed by the terms of that Plan.

             g.   McDonough will be paid no further wages, bonuses,
                  benefits, compensation or remuneration of any kind
                  subsequent to October 31, 2000, other than those
                  specifically provided above.

        3.   McDonough hereby resigns from Newell as an employee
             effective October 31, 2000 and expressly declines
             reinstatement, employment and rehire by Newell and waives
             all rights to claim such relief and agrees never to seek or
             apply for employment with Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. or any of
             its subsidiaries, affiliated businesses or divisions in the
             future.  McDonough further hereby resigns from the Newell
             Board of Directors and from the Board of Directors of any
             subsidiary of Newell of which he is a member also effective
             October 31, 2000.

        4.   McDonough agrees that this Agreement and all its terms and
             provisions are strictly confidential and shall not be
             divulged or disclosed in any way to any person other than
             his spouse, legal counsel and tax advisor if he so desires,
             and that be will protect the confidentiality of the

                                      2





             Agreement in all regards.  Should McDonough choose to
             divulge the terms and conditions of the Agreement to his
             spouse, legal counsel or tax advisor, he shall ensure that
             they will be similarly bound to protect its confidentiality
             and that a breach of the paragraph by McDonough's spouse,
             legal counsel or tax advisor, he shall ensure that they will
             be similarly hound to protect its confidentiality and that a
             breach of the paragraph by McDonough's spouse, legal counsel
             or tax advisor shall be considered a breach of the paragraph
             by McDonough.

        5.   McDonough represents that he has not filed any pending
             complaint, charge, claim or grievance against Newell with
             any local, state or federal agency, court or commission.

        6.   (a)  McDonough acknowledges that:

                   (i) As a result of his employment with Newell and as a
                       member of its Board of Directors he has obtained
                       secret and confidential information concerning the
                       business of Newell and its subsidiaries and
                       divisions, including, without limitation, the
                       operations and finances, the business plan, the
                       identity of potential acquisitions, the identity
                       of customers and sources of' supply, their needs
                       and requirements, the nature and extent of
                       contracts with them, product and process
                       specifications and related costs, price,
                       profitability and sales information;

                  (ii) Newell and its subsidiaries and divisions will
                       suffer substantial damage which will be difficult
                       to compute if McDonough should divulge secret and
                       confidential information relating to the business
                       of Newell heretofore acquired by him in the course
                       of his employment with Newell or his participation
                       on its Board of Directors; and

                 (iii) The provisions of this Agreement are reasonable
                       and necessary for the protection of the business
                       of Newell and its subsidiaries and divisions.

             (b)  McDonough agrees that he will not for a period of two
                  (2) years following the date McDonough signs this
                  Agreement divulge to any person, firm or corporation,
                  or use for his own benefit, any secret or confidential
                  information obtained or learned by him in the course of
                  his employment with Newell with regard to the
                  operational, financial, business or other affairs of
                  Newell or its subsidiaries and divisions, including,
                  without limitation, proprietary trade "know how" and
                  secrets, financial information and models, customer

                                      3





                  lists, business, marketing and sales plans, identity
                  and qualifications of Newell's employees, sources of
                  supply, pricing policies, proprietary operational
                  methods, product specifications or technical processes,
                  except (i) with Newell's express written consent; or
                  (ii) to the extent that any such information is in or
                  becomes part of the public domain other than as a
                  result of McDonough's breach of any of his obligations
                  hereunder.

             (c)  Except as provided herein, McDonough represents that he
                  has no later than the date he signs this Agreement,
                  delivered to Newell all memoranda, notes, files,
                  computers, software, discs, memory storage records,
                  reports, manuals, drawings, blueprints, credit cards
                  and other documents (and all copies thereof) and other
                  tools provided to McDonough by Newell relating to the
                  business of Newell and its subsidiaries and divisions
                  and all property associated therewith which he may
                  possess or have under his control.  McDonough further
                  represents that he has neither kept, created, nor
                  downloaded any copy of Newell's computer records.

             (d)  If McDonough commits a breach, or threatens to commit a
                  breach, of any of the provisions of paragraph 6, Newell
                  shall have the right:

                  (i)  to have the provisions of this Agreement
                       specifically enforced by and obtain any other
                       relief to which it is entitled by law from any
                       court having jurisdiction; and

                  (ii) following adjudication by the court of competent
                       jurisdiction (including exhaustion of all appeals)
                       that a breach of any of the provisions of
                       paragraph 6 has occurred, to require McDonough to
                       pay over to Newell all severance benefits provided
                       in paragraphs 2.a. and b. of this Agreement and to
                       account for and pay over to Newell all
                       compensation, profits, monies, accruals,
                       increments or other benefits (collectively
                       "Benefits") derived or received by him as the
                       result of any transactions constituting a breach
                       of any of the provisions of paragraph 6, and
                       McDonough hereby agrees to account for and pay
                       over such Benefits to Newell; and

                 (iii) discontinue the payment of any further severance
                       benefits under paragraphs 2.a. and b of this
                       Agreement.



                                      4





             (e)  Each of the rights and remedies enumerated in this
                  paragraph 6 shall be independent of the other, and
                  shall be severally enforceable, and such rights and
                  remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of,
                  any other rights and remedies available to Newell in
                  law or equity.

        7.   McDonough agrees that he will conduct himself in a
             professional manner and not make any disparaging or negative
             statements regarding Newell, its subsidiaries or divisions
             or their officers, directors or employees.

        8.   Following his resignation McDonough shall, upon reasonable
             notice and at reasonable times, (having due regard for the
             conflicting obligations arising from any other employment or
             engagement of McDonough), advise and assist Newell in
             preparing such operational, financial or other reports or
             other filings as Newell may reasonably request, and to
             respond to inquiries concerning the operations, finances and
             business of Newell and otherwise cooperate with Newell and
             its affiliates as Newell shall reasonably request.
             Furthermore, upon reasonable notice, McDonough agrees to
             cooperate with Newell at Newell's request in prosecuting or
             defending against any litigation, complaints or claims
             against or involving Newell or any of its subsidiaries,
             divisions or affiliated businesses at any time in the
             future.

        9.   As a material inducement to Newell to enter the Agreement,
             McDonough hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases,
             acquits and forever discharges Newell, its successors,
             assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees,
             representatives, subsidiaries, divisions, parent
             corporations and affiliates, and all other persons acting
             by, through or in concert with any of them (collectively
             "Releasees") from any and all charges, complaints, claims,
             liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, actions,
             damages, expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs
             actually incurred), or any rights of any and every kind or
             nature, accrued or unaccrued, known and unknown, which
             McDonough has or claims to have against each or any of the
             Releasees.  This release pertains to but is in no way
             limited to all matters relating to or arising out of
             McDonough's employment and termination of employment by
             Newell and all claims for severance benefits. The release
             further pertains to but is in no way limited to rights and
             claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
             1967 (29 U.S.C. 621, et seq.), Title VII of the Civil Rights
             Act, as amended, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and
             all state, local or municipal fair employment laws.



                                      5





        10.  The Agreement shall be binding upon McDonough and upon his
             heirs, administrators, representatives, executors,
             successors, and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of
             the Releasees and to their heirs, administrators,
             representatives, executors, successors, and assigns.

        11.  As a further material inducement to Newell to enter into
             this Agreement, McDonough hereby agrees to indemnify and
             hold each and all of the Releasees harmless from and against
             any attorneys' fees incurred by Releasees, not to exceed
             Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), arising out of the breach
             of the Agreement by McDonough.  Newell's right to
             indemnification in this paragraph 11 is independent from and
             in addition to all of its rights to relief under this
             Agreement, and to recover damages and severance benefits,
             and to discontinue severance benefits as provided in
             paragraph 6 of this Agreement.

        12.  The parties understand and agree that the Agreement is final
             and binding and constitutes the complete and exclusive
             statement of the terms and conditions of settlement, that no
             representations or commitments were made by the parties to
             induce the Agreement other than as expressly set forth
             herein and that the Agreement is fully understood by the
             parties. McDonough further represents that he has had the
             opportunity and time to consult with legal counsel
             concerning the provisions of the Agreement and that he has
             been given twenty-one (21) days within which to execute the
             Agreement and seven (7) days following his execution to
             revoke the Agreement.  The Agreement may not be modified or
             supplemented except by a subsequent written Agreement signed
             by the party against whom enforcement of the modification is
             sought.

        13.  The validity, construction and enforceability of this
             Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of
             the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflicts of
             laws rules.

        14.  McDonough acknowledges that he has carefully read the entire
             document, that a copy of the document was available to him
             prior to execution, that he knows and understands the
             provisions of the document, and that he has signed the
             document as his own free act and deed.

           [The rest of this page has been left purposely blank.]







                                      6





        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties herein executed the Agreement as
   of the date appearing next to their signatures.

                                      NEWELL RUBBERMAID, INC.



   Date: December 1, 2000
        -----------------             /s/ Gilbert A. Niesen
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      GILBERT A. NIESEN, VICE-PRESIDENT
                                      PERSONNEL RELATIONS


   CAUTION:  THIS IS A RELEASE CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY AND READ IT
   BEFORE SIGNING  THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE REVOKED IN WRITING BY YOU WITHIN
   SEVEN (7) DAYS OF YOUR EXECUTION OF THE DOCUMENT.




   Date: November 29, 2000            /s/ John J. McDonough
        ------------------            ----------------------------------
                                      JOHN J. McDONOUGH


   STATE OF ILLINOIS   )
                       ) SS.
   COUNTY OF LAKE      )

        On the 29th day of November, 2000, John J. McDonough appeared
   before me and, after being duly sworn, did say that he acknowledged
   the instrument to be his voluntary act.

        In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and official seal:


                                      /s/ Susan K. Russell
                                      ----------------------------------
                                           Notary Public













                                      7
   </TEXT>
   </DOCUMENT>
