POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Dale L. Matschullat,
Bradford R. Turner and Christine Vogt, signing singly, the
undersigned?s true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:
(1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned?s capacity as an officer and/or director of Newell
Rubbermaid Inc. (the ?Company?), Forms ID, 3, 4, and 5 in
accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules thereunder;
(2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
execute any such Form ID, 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any
amendment or amendments, thereto, and timely file such form with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
stock exchange or similar authority; and
(3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such
attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest
of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact
on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact?s
discretion.
     The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact
full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and
thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
if personally present, with full power of substitution or
revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact?s substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request
of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned?s responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Act of 1934.
     This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and
effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file
Forms ID, 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned?s
holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the
Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed
writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
     The undersigned hereby revokes any Power of Attorney
granted by the undersigned prior to the date hereof to agents
or employees of the Company with respect to the matters set forth
in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power
of Attorney to be executed as of this 3rd day of February, 2005.

/s/ James M. Sweet

Print Name:  James M. Sweet