EXHIBIT 31.1
                                                             ------------

                                CERTIFICATION


   I, Joseph Galli, Jr., certify that:


   1.   I have reviewed this report on Form 1O-Q for the quarterly period
        ended June 30, 2003 of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.;

   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 and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
        periods presented in this report;

   4.   The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are
        responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
        and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
        15d-15(e)) 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 the end of the period covered
             by 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 quarter (the
             registrant's fourth fiscal quarter 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(s) and I have
        disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal
        control over financial reporting, 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 31, 2003

                                           /s/ Joseph Galli, Jr.
                                           ----------------------------
                                           Joseph Galli, Jr.
                                           Chief Executive Officer

























                                     2