Exhibit 5.1


                                February 14, 1997


Chevron Corporation
575 Market Street
San Francisco, CA  94105


             Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8


Ladies and Gentlemen:

          With reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed
by the Chevron Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to
Deferred Compensation Obligations of Chevron Corporation in the principal amount
of $150,000,000 and 2,191,780 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the Company's Management Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), it is our
opinion that such Deferred Compensation Obligations and such shares of Common
Stock of the Company, when issued and sold in accordance with the Plan, will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  /s/ Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP

                                  PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP


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