EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 April 19, 2001

Sprint Corporation
6200 Sprint Parkway
Overland Park, Kansas 66251

  Re:  Legality of the 7.900% notes due 2005, the 8.375% notes due 2012
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       and the 8.750% notes due 2032 being registered
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Sprint Corporation, a Kansas corporation (the
"Company"), and Sprint Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Sprint
Capital"), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on
Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), relating to the proposed exchange of up to $1,000,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 7.900% notes due 2005, $2,000,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 8.375% notes due 2012 and $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of 8.750% notes due 2032 of Sprint Capital (collectively, the "New
Notes") for a like principal amount of Sprint Capital's issued and outstanding
7.900% notes due 2005, 8.375% notes due 2012 and 8.750% notes due 2032,
respectively (collectively, the "Old Notes" and, together with the New Notes,
the "Notes"). The Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, unconditionally
guaranteed by the Company (the "New Guarantees").

     In so acting, we have reviewed the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1998,
among Sprint Capital, the Company and Bank One, N.A., as Trustee, as
supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 15, 1999,
and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2001 (such
Indenture, as so supplemented, the "Indenture"). We have also reviewed such
matters of law and examined original, certified, conformed or photographic
copies of such other documents, records, agreements and certificates as we have
deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In such
review, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on all documents submitted
to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all copies
submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies.

     For purposes of the opinions below, we have assumed that the execution and
delivery of, and the performance of all obligations under, the Indenture has
been duly authorized by all requisite action by the Trustee and that the
Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding
agreement of, the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with
its terms.

     This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of New
York and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other
jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the opinions expressed




Sprint Corporation
April 19, 2002
Page 2


herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is
implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to all of the assumptions,
limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

     (1)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
     Company and Sprint Capital and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
     of the Company and Sprint Capital enforceable against the Company and
     Sprint Capital in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement of
     remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar
     laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to the
     effect of general principles of equity.

     (2)  The New Notes have been duly authorized by Sprint Capital and, when
     executed and delivered by Sprint Capital and duly authenticated in
     accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered in exchange for
     the Old Notes, will constitute valid and binding obligations of Sprint
     Capital, enforceable against Sprint Capital in accordance with their terms,
     subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and
     remedies of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of
     equity.

     (3) The New Guarantees have been duly authorized by Sprint and, when the
     New Notes are executed and delivered by Sprint Capital with executed New
     Guarantees affixed thereto in accordance with the terms of the Indenture in
     exchange for the Old Notes, will constitute valid and binding obligations
     of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
     terms, subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights and
     remedies of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of
     equity.

     This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to
advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our
attention or changes in law that occur, which could affect the opinions
contained herein. This opinion may not be relied upon by any person or entity
(other than the addressee hereof) for any purpose without our prior written
consent.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement.


                                             Very truly yours,


                                             /s/ KING & SPALDING