Exhibit (i)

[VEDDER PRICE LETTERHEAD]


                                              December 18, 2000



Kemper Short-Term U.S. Government Fund
222 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60606


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference  is  made  to   Post-Effective   Amendment   No.  22  to  the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 being filed
by Kemper  Short-Term  U.S.  Government Fund (the "Fund") in connection with the
public offering from time to time of units of beneficial interest,  no par value
("Shares"), in one authorized series (the "Portfolio").

         We have acted as counsel to the Fund, and in such capacity are familiar
with the Fund's organization and have counseled the Fund regarding various legal
matters. We have examined such Fund records and other documents and certificates
as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
In our  examination of such  materials,  we have assumed the  genuineness of all
signatures and the conformity to original  documents of all copies  submitted to
us.

         Based upon the  foregoing  and  assuming  that the Fund's  Amended  and
Restated  Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust dated May 27, 1994,  the Written
Instrument Establishing and Designating Separate Classes of Shares dated May 27,
1994, the Amended and Restated Written  Instrument  Establishing and Designating
Separate  Classes of Shares dated March 9, 1996, the Certificate of Amendment of
Declaration of Trust dated January 19, 1999, and the By-Laws of the Fund adopted
September  24, 1991 and effective  January 1, 1992,  are presently in full force
and effect and have not been  amended in any  respect  and that the  resolutions
adopted by the Board of Trustees  of the Fund on July 28,  1987,  September  24,
1991,  January 14, 1994, March 4 and 5, 1994, and March 8 and 9, 1996,  relating
to  organizational  matters,  securities  matters and the issuance of shares are
presently in full force and effect and have not been amended in any respect,  we
advise  you  and  opine  that  (a)  the  Fund is a  validly  existing  voluntary
association  with  transferable  shares  under the laws of the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts  and is authorized  to issue an unlimited  number of Shares in the
Portfolio;  and (b)  presently  and upon such further  issuance of the Shares in
accordance with the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the receipt by
the Fund of a  purchase  price not less  than the net asset  value per Share and
when the pertinent  provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and such "blue-sky"
and securities  laws as may be applicable  have been complied with, and assuming
that the Fund






VEDDER PRICE

December 18, 2000
Page 2


continues to validly exist as provided in (a) above,  the Shares are and will be
legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

         The Fund is an entity of the type  commonly  known as a  "Massachusetts
business trust." Under  Massachusetts  law,  shareholders  could,  under certain
circumstances,  be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund or the
Portfolio. However, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder
liability  for acts and  obligations  of the Fund or the  Portfolio and requires
that  notice  of  such  disclaimer  be  given  in  each  note,  bond,  contract,
instrument,  certificate  share or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or
officers of the Fund.  The  Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust  provides  for
indemnification out of the property of the Portfolio for all loss and expense of
any  shareholder  held  personally  liable for the obligations of the Portfolio.
Thus, the risk of liability is limited to  circumstances  in which the Portfolio
would be unable to meet its obligations.

         This opinion is solely for the benefit of the Fund, the Fund's Board of
Trustees and the Fund's  officers and may not be relied upon by any other person
without our prior written consent.  We hereby consent to the use of this opinion
in connection with said Post-Effective Amendment.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ

                              VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ



DAS/RJM