<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.12

                      FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

                                August 31, 2001


(Title) (FirstName) (LastName)
(JobTitle)
(Company)
(Address1)
(City), (State) (PostalCode)

Dear (Title) (LastName):

          USX Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates (the
"Corporation") recognizes that your contribution to the growth and success of
the Corporation will continue to be substantial and desires to assure the
Corporation of your continued employment. In this connection, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") recognizes that, as is the case with
many publicly-held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may
exist and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may
raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management
personnel to the detriment of the Corporation and its stockholders.

          Accordingly, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Corporation's management, including yourself, to their assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Corporation.
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          In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Corporation, the
Corporation agrees that you shall receive the severance benefits set forth in
this letter agreement ("Agreement") in the event your employment with the
Corporation is terminated subsequent to a "Change in Control of the Corporation"
(as defined in Section 2(a) hereof), in connection with a "Potential Change in
Control of the Corporation" (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof), or under the
other circumstances described below.

          Upon the separation of the steel and steel-related businesses of the
Corporation from its energy and energy related businesses (the "Separation"),
which is anticipated to occur on or about January 1, 2002, the steel and steel-
related businesses will be owned and operated by United States Steel
Corporation, which will be a separate, stand-alone, publicly traded company no
longer affiliated with the Corporation, and the energy and energy related
businesses will continue to be owned and operated by the Corporation, which, at
the time of the Separation, will be renamed Marathon Oil Corporation.

          If, in connection with the Separation you will be employed by United
States Steel Corporation, effective at that time:  1) United States Steel
Corporation will assume this Agreement, and will perform under the Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to
perform if the Separation had not taken place; 2) United States Steel
Corporation will replace USX Corporation as the "Corporation," as that term is
used in this Agreement, except as otherwise required by context; and 3) USX
Corporation will no longer have any obligations under this
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Agreement. In the event that the Separation does not occur, the obligations owed
to you under this Agreement will remain those of USX Corporation.

          If you will not be employed by United States Steel Corporation in
connection with the Separation, the obligations owed to you under this Agreement
will remain those of the Corporation.  However, in light of the name change,
effective as of the Separation, Marathon Oil Corporation will be the
"Corporation" as that term is used in this Agreement, except as otherwise
required by context.  In the event that the Separation does not occur, this
Agreement will continue unchanged.

          1.   Term of Agreement. This Agreement will commence on the date
               -----------------
hereof and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2002; provided, however,
that commencing on December 31, 2002 and each December 31 thereafter, the term
of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year
unless, not later than September 1 of that year, the Corporation shall have
given notice that it does not wish to extend this Agreement; provided, further
that, if (a) a Change in Control of the Corporation shall have occurred during
the original or extended term of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement
shall continue in effect for a period of twenty-four (24) months beyond the
month in which such Change in Control of the Corporation occurred and (b) if a
Potential Change in Control of the Corporation shall have occurred during the
original or extended term of this Agreement, then the term of this Agreement
shall continue in effect beginning on the date the Potential Change in Control
occurs and shall not end before the earlier of (i) the end of the month in which
a Change in Control occurs or (ii) the date the Board makes a good faith
determination that the risk of a
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Change in Control has terminated (the "Potential Change in Control Period"). In
the event the Potential Change in Control Period ends due to a Change in
Control, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of twenty-four
(24) months beyond the month in which such Change in Control occurred.

     2.   Change in Control and Potential Change in Control of the Corporation.
          --------------------------------------------------------------------

          (a)  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control of the
Corporation" and "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control of a nature
that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A
of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), whether or not the Corporation is then subject to
such reporting requirement; provided, that, without limitation, such a change in
control shall be deemed to have occurred if:

               (i)  any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Corporation (not including in the amount of the securities
beneficially owned by such person any such securities acquired directly from the
Corporation or its affiliates) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding voting securities;
provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement the term "Person" shall
not include (A) the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (C) an underwriter temporarily
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holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) a
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of
the Corporation; and provided, further, however, that for purposes of this
paragraph (i), there shall be excluded any Person who becomes such a beneficial
owner in connection with an Excluded Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii)
below); or

               (ii)      the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who,
on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a
director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest including, but not limited to, a consent
solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Corporation) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Corporation's stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended; or

               (iii)     there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the
Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (an "Excluded Transaction")
which would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
corporation or any parent thereof) at least 50% of the
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combined voting power of the voting securities of the entity surviving the
merger or consolidation (or the parent of such surviving entity) immediately
after such merger or consolidation, or the shareholders of the Corporation
approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation, or there is
consummated the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets.

          (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Potential Change in Control of
the Corporation" and "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have
occurred, if:

               (i)       the Corporation enters into an agreement, the
consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control of
the Corporation;

               (ii)      any Person (including the Corporation) publicly
announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if
consummated would constitute a Change in Control of the Corporation;

               (iii)     any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 15% or more of the
combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities (not
including in the amount of the securities beneficially owned by such Person any
such securities acquired directly from the Corporation or its affiliates); or

               (iv)      the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for
purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control of the Corporation has
occurred.
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          (c)  You agree that, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control of the Corporation, you will
remain in the employ of the Corporation for a period of three (3) months from
and after the occurrence of such Change in Control of the Corporation; provided,
however, that if during such three-month period (A) your employment is
involuntarily terminated by the Corporation other than for Cause or (B) you
terminate your employment during such three-month period for Good Reason, you
shall not be required to remain in the Corporation's employ. The foregoing shall
in no event limit or otherwise affect your rights under any other provision of
this Agreement.

          (d)  You agree that, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, in the event of a Potential Change in Control of the Corporation, you
will remain in the employ of the Corporation until the earliest of (A) a date
which is six (6) months from the occurrence of such Potential Change in Control
of the Corporation, (B) the termination of your employment by reason of your
death or Disability, as defined in Subsection 3(a), or (C) a date which is three
(3) months from and after the occurrence of a Change in Control of the
Corporation; provided, however, that if during any such period (A) your
employment is involuntarily terminated by the Corporation other than for Cause
or (B) you terminate your employment during any such period for Good Reason, you
shall not be required to remain in the Corporation's employ. The foregoing shall
in no event limit or otherwise affect your rights under any other provision of
this Agreement.
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          (e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the currently
contemplated tax-free spin-off of the steel and steel-related businesses of the
Corporation into a freestanding, publicly traded company and retention of the
energy and energy-related businesses (the "Restructuring") shall not constitute
a Change in Control nor shall events or actions in contemplation of the
Restructuring constitute a Potential Change in Control.

     3.   Termination Following a Change in Control or Potential Change in
          ----------------------------------------------------------------
Control of the Corporation. If any of the events described in Section 2(a)
--------------------------
hereof constituting a Change in Control of the Corporation shall have occurred,
you shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section 4(d) hereof upon the
termination of your employment during the term of this Agreement unless such
termination is (i) because of your death or Disability, (ii) by the Corporation
for Cause, (iii) by you other than for Good Reason or (iv) on or after the date
that you attain age sixty-five (65).  If your employment is terminated prior to
a Change in Control, if such termination is other than (i) because of your death
or Disability, (ii) by the Corporation for Cause, (iii) due to your voluntary
resignation, unless such resignation is for Good Reason or (iv) on or after the
date that you attain age sixty-five (65), and either you reasonably demonstrate
that such termination (I) was at the request of or as a result of actions by a
third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in
Control or (II) occurs during a Potential Change in Control Period, then your
employment shall be deemed to have terminated following a Change in Control.
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          (a)  Disability.  If, as a result of your incapacity due to physical
               ----------
mental illness which in the opinion of a licensed physician renders you
incapable of performing your assigned duties with the Corporation, you shall
have been absent from the full-time performance of your duties with the
Corporation for six (6) consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after
written Notice of Termination is given you shall not have returned to the full-
time performance of your duties, the Corporation may terminate your employment
for "Disability."

          (b)  Cause. Termination by the Corporation of your employment for
               -----
"Cause" shall mean termination upon (i) the willful and continued failure by you
to substantially perform your duties with the Corporation (other than any such
failure resulting from termination by you for Good Reason or any such failure
resulting from your incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a
demand for substantial performance is delivered to you that specifically
identifies the manner in which the Corporation believes that you have not
substantially performed your duties, and you have failed to resume substantial
performance of your duties on a continuous basis within fourteen (14) days of
receiving such demand, (ii) the willful engaging by you in conduct which is
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Corporation, monetarily or
otherwise or (iii) your conviction of a felony or conviction of a misdemeanor
which impairs your ability substantially to perform your duties with the
Corporation. For purposes of this Subsection, no act, or failure to act, on your
part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by you not in
good faith and without
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reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interest of the
Corporation.

          (c)  Good Reason. You shall be entitled to terminate your employment
               -----------
for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean,
without your express written consent, the occurrence after a Change in Control
of the Corporation, or after and at the request of or as a result of actions by
a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in
Control or after the first day of but during a Potential Change in Control
Period (each an "Applicable Event"), of any one or more of the following:

               (i)    the assignment to you of duties inconsistent with your
position immediately prior to the Applicable Event or a reduction or alteration
in the nature of your position, duties, status or responsibilities from those in
effect immediately prior to the Applicable Event;

               (ii)   a reduction by the Corporation in your annualized and
monthly or semi-monthly rate of base salary (as increased to incorporate your
foreign service premium, if any) ("Base Salary") as in effect on the date hereof
or as the same shall be increased from time to time;

               (iii)  the Corporation's requiring you to be based at a location
in excess of fifty (50) miles from the location where you are based immediately
prior to the Applicable Event;

               (iv)   the failure by the Corporation to continue, substantially
as in effect immediately prior to the Applicable Event, all of the
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Corporation's employee benefit, incentive compensation, bonus, stock option and
stock award plans, programs, policies, practices or arrangements in which you
participate (or substantially equivalent successor plans, programs, policies,
practices or arrangements) or the failure by the Corporation to continue your
participation therein on substantially the same basis, both in terms of the
amount of benefits provided and the level of your participation relative to
other participants, as existed immediately prior to the Applicable Event;

               (v)    the failure of the Corporation to obtain an agreement from
any successor to the Corporation to assume and agree to perform this Agreement,
as contemplated in Section 7 hereof; and

               (vi)   any purported termination by the Corporation of your
employment that is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
the requirements of subparagraph (d) below, and for purposes of this Agreement,
no such purported termination shall be effective.

     Your right to terminate your employment pursuant to this Subsection shall
not be affected by your incapacity due to physical or mental illness.  Your
continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder.  Your
determination of the existence of Good Reason shall be final and conclusive
unless such determination is not made in good faith and is made without
reasonable belief in the existence of Good Reason.
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          (d)  Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Corporation for
               ---------------------
Cause or for Disability or by you for Good Reason shall be communicated by
Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement,
a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth
in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of your employment under the provision so indicated.

          (e)  Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination" shall mean the date
               -------------------
specified in the Notice of Termination, when such a notice is required, or in
any other case upon ceasing to perform services to the Corporation; provided,
however, that if within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination one
party notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination,
the Date of Termination shall be the date finally determined to be the Date of
Termination in an arbitration award that has been confirmed or enforced by a
final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.  Until there
is a finally determined Date of Termination, your compensation (including your
Base Salary at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, or
the Date of Termination where no Notice of Termination is required hereunder)
and benefits as in effect prior to the event asserted to have triggered a Notice
of Termination shall continue in effect.

     4.   Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability.  After an
          --------------------------------------------------
Applicable Event has occurred, if, during the term of this Agreement, your
employment is terminated or you are in a period of Disability the following
shall be applicable:
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          (a)  During any period that you fail to perform your full-time duties
with the Corporation as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental
illness, your total compensation, including your Base Salary, bonus and any
benefits, will continue unaffected until either you return to the full-time
performance of your duties or your employment is terminated pursuant to Section
3(a) hereof.  In the event you return to the full-time performance of your
duties, you shall continue to receive your full Base Salary and bonus plus all
other amounts to which you are entitled under any compensation or other employee
benefit plan of the Corporation without interruption.  In the event your
employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, your benefits shall be
determined in accordance with the Corporation's retirement, insurance and other
applicable programs and plans then in effect.

          (b)  If your employment shall be terminated by the Corporation for
Cause or by you other than for Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay you your
full Base Salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the
time Notice of Termination is given or on the Date of Termination if no Notice
of Termination is required hereunder, plus all other amounts to which you are
entitled under any compensation or benefit plan of the Corporation at the time
such payments are due, and the Corporation shall have no further obligations to
you under this Agreement.

          (c)  If your employment terminates by reason of your death, your
benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Corporation's retirement,
survivor's benefits, insurance and other applicable programs and plans then in
effect.
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          (d)  If your employment by the Corporation is either terminated by the
Corporation (other than for Cause or Disability) or terminated by you for Good
Reason, you shall be entitled to the following benefits.

               (i)   Accrued Compensation and Benefits. The Corporation shall
provide you:
               (A)   the compensation and benefits accrued through the Date of
     Termination to the extent not theretofore provided;

               (B)   a lump sum cash amount equal to the value of your unused
     vacation days accrued through the Date of Termination; and

               (C)   your normal post-termination compensation and benefits
     under the Corporation's retirement, insurance and other compensation and
     benefit plans as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, or
     if more favorable to you, immediately prior to the Applicable Event.

               (ii)  Lump Sum Severance Payment. The Corporation shall provide
to you a severance payment in the form of a cash lump sum distribution equal to
your Current Annual Compensation (as defined below) multiplied times three (3);
provided, however, that if you attain age 65 within three years of the Date of
Termination, your benefit will be limited to a pro rata portion of such benefit
based on a fraction equal to the number of full and partial months existing
between the Date of Termination and your sixty-fifth (65/th/) birthday divided
by 36 months.
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          For purposes of this paragraph, the term "Current Annual Compensation"
shall mean the sum of:

                (A)   your Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the
          occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such termination or, if
          higher, immediately prior to the Applicable Event; and

                (B)   an amount equal to the highest annual bonus awarded to
          you, if any, under any annual bonus plan of the Corporation or its
          predecessor in the three (3) years immediately preceding the Date of
          Termination or, if higher, in the three (3) years immediately
          preceding the Applicable Event.

               (iii)  Continuation of Welfare Benefits.  Subject to the
benefits offset described below, the Corporation will arrange to make available
to you life and health insurance benefits during the Welfare Continuation Period
(as defined below) that are substantially similar to those which you were
receiving under a Corporation-sponsored welfare benefit plan immediately prior
to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to you, immediately prior to
the Applicable Event.  These benefits will be provided at a cost to you that is
no greater than the amount paid for such benefits by active employees who
participate in such Corporation-sponsored welfare benefit plan or, if less, the
amount paid for such benefits by you immediately prior to the Applicable Event.
The Welfare Continuation Period extends from the Date of Termination for a
period of thirty-six (36) months, or, if earlier, until your 65/th/ birthday.
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          The benefits otherwise receivable by you pursuant to this paragraph
(iii) shall be reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received
by you during the Welfare Continuation Period.  For purposes of complying with
the terms of this offset, you are obligated to report to the Corporation the
amount of any such benefits actually received.

               (iv)  Retiree Medical and Life Benefits. The Corporation will
arrange to make available to you retiree life and health insurance benefits
determined as if under the Corporation's welfare benefit plans your actual
participation credit (or continuous service) and actual age as of the Date of
Termination were increased by the additional three years of service and age
provided in paragraph 4(d)(v)(A) below. If eligible for such coverage, you may
elect to commence participation in retiree medical benefits coverage at any time
following the expiration of the Welfare Continuation Period (or immediately
after the Date of Termination, if you satisfy the eligibility requirements
without taking into consideration the additional three years of service and
age).

          Such retiree medical and life insurance coverage, if any, will be
provided by the entity that is your employer as of the Date of Termination. The
term "SSA" is defined to mean Speedway SuperAmerica LLC and its subsidiaries and
successors. The term "MAP" is defined to mean Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC and
its subsidiaries, other than SSA, and successors. The term "Marathon" is defined
to mean Marathon Oil Corporation, Marathon Oil Company and their subsidiaries,
other than
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MAP and SSA, and successors. The term "Steel" is defined to mean United States
Steel LLC, United States Steel Corporation, and their subsidiaries and
successors.

               (A)  Marathon Welfare Benefit Plan. With respect to a Marathon
          welfare benefit plan, the premium charged by the Corporation for
          retiree medical coverage will be the lowest premium then in effect for
          any retiree medical coverage under its welfare benefit plan or, if
          lower, the lowest premium available thereunder immediately prior to
          the Applicable Event.

               (B)  Steel, MAP or SSA Welfare Benefit Plan. The additional three
          years of continuous service and age provided in paragraph 4(d)(v)(A)
          below shall be taken into consideration in determining your
          eligibility for retiree medical and life insurance benefits under this
          Agreement.

               If because of the recognition of the additional three years of
          continuous service and age described above, your service and/or age
          meets or exceeds the service and/or age specified in the appropriate
          Steel, MAP, or SSA welfare benefit plan for eligibility for retiree
          medical or life insurance coverage, the Corporation will provide you
          with an additional lump sum severance payment equal to the lump sum
          value of the contributions that the Corporation would have made on
          your behalf with respect to the retiree medical and life (as if all
          such life insurance benefits were group term life insurance benefits)
          benefits provided under the
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          appropriate Steel, MAP, or SSA welfare benefit plan. Such additional
          lump sum severance benefit shall be in lieu of monthly Corporation
          contributions on your behalf for retiree medical and life insurance
          coverage under a Steel, MAP, or SSA welfare benefit plan. If you elect
          to participate in retiree medical and life insurance coverage through
          the Corporation, you will be responsible for the full costs of the
          program. The methods and assumptions that existed under the
          appropriate Steel Pension Plans, MAP Pension Plans, or SSA Pension
          Plans immediately prior to the Applicable Event for purposes of
          determining a lump sum distribution shall be used for purposes of
          determining the lump sum value of the Corporation contributions.

                    (v)  Supplemental Retirement Benefit. In addition to the
pension benefits to which you are entitled (assuming Corporation consent, if
necessary for retirement prior to age 60) under the Corporation's defined
benefit pension plans, the Corporation shall provide to you a benefit (the
"Supplemental Retirement Benefit") equal to the difference between: (A) the lump
sum value of your Enhanced Pension Benefit (as defined in paragraph (A) below),
and (B) the lump sum value of your Actual Pension Benefit (as defined in
paragraph (B) below). The Supplemental Retirement Benefit shall be paid in the
form of a lump sum cash distribution. The methods and assumptions that existed
under the applicable Corporation pension plan (or plans) immediately prior to
the Applicable Event for purposes of determining a lump sum distribution shall
be used for purposes of determining the lump sum values in (A) and
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(B). In determining the Enhanced Pension Benefit and the Actual Pension Benefit,
amendments to the Steel Pension Plans, the Marathon Pension Plans, the MAP
Pension Plans, and the SSA Pension Plans made subsequent to the Applicable Event
and on or prior to the Date of Termination, if any, shall be disregarded if they
adversely affect in any manner the computation of retirement benefits
thereunder.
                    (A)  Enhanced Pension Benefit. The amount of your Enhanced
          Pension Benefit shall be equal to the Actual Pension Benefit for which
          you are eligible under the Steel Pension Plans, the Marathon Pension
          Plans, the MAP Pension Plans, and the SSA Pension Plans (as each is
          defined in paragraph 4(d)(v)(B) below) as of the Date of Termination,
          as adjusted to incorporate the enhancements outlined in paragraphs (1)
          through (6) below. If you are employed by Marathon, MAP or SSA as of
          the Date of Termination, the enhancements outlined in this paragraph
          (A) shall be applied only to your benefits under the Marathon Pension
          Plans, the MAP Pension Plans, or the SSA Pension Plans in which you
          were an active participant as of the Date of Termination. Otherwise,
          the enhancements shall be applied only to your benefits under the
          Steel Pension Plans.

               (1)  Normal Retirement Benefit - Service. For purposes of
               determining your monthly normal retirement benefit payable at
               normal retirement age, service used in the formula(s) shall be
               deemed to be equal to the sum of your actual service for benefit
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               accrual purposes plus three years. For this purpose, your actual
               service shall be determined as of the Date of Termination.

               (2) Normal Retirement Benefit - Final Average Pay. For purposes
               of determining your monthly normal retirement benefit payable at
               normal retirement age, final average pay shall be calculated
               using the sum of:

               I.   your Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the
                    occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such
                    termination or, if higher, immediately prior to the
                    Applicable Event; and

               II.  if bonus is considered covered compensation under the
                    applicable pension plan, an amount equal to the highest
                    annual bonus awarded to you, if any, under any annual bonus
                    plan of the Corporation or its predecessor with respect to
                    the three (3) years immediately preceding the Date of
                    Termination or, if higher, the three (3) years immediately
                    preceding the Applicable Event (but not less than the amount
                    of bonus taken into account in your Actual Pension Benefit).
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               Final average pay taken into account for this paragraph shall not
               be less than the amount of final average pay taken into account
               in the determination of your Actual Pension Benefit.

               (3)  Early Commencement Factors - Enhanced Service and Age. For
               purposes of determining the early commencement factors that apply
               to your monthly normal retirement benefit, your service and age
               shall be deemed equal to your actual service and age plus three
               years of service and three years of age, respectively. For this
               purpose, your actual service and actual age shall be determined
               as of the Date of Termination. In addition, if you satisfy the
               age and service requirements for a Rule-of-65, -70, or -80
               retirement option under the pension rules applicable to the Steel
               Pension Plans as of the Date of Termination (taking into
               consideration the three years of age and service provided in this
               paragraph), you shall be eligible for an immediate pension under
               such retirement option in accordance with the terms of such
               pension rules even though the leave of absence requirements have
               not been satisfied.

               (4)  Full Vesting. Your accrued benefits under the Steel Pension
               Plans, Marathon Pension Plans, the MAP Pension Plans, and the SSA
               Pension Plans shall be deemed to be fully vested or, to the
               extent not so vested, paid as an additional benefit under this
               Agreement.
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               (5) Special SSA Provisions. If you are employed by SSA on the
               Date of Termination:

               I.   the additional service credit under paragraph (1) above
                    shall be disregarded for purposes of calculating the accrued
                    benefit under the prior traditional defined benefit plan
                    formula under SSA's Pension Equity Plan which is otherwise
                    applicable in determining the Enhanced Pension Benefit, but
                    shall be counted for early retirement eligibility and other
                    purposes; and

               II.  in calculating the Enhanced Pension Benefit related to the
                    pension equity formula under SSA's Pension Equity Plan, the
                    additional service credit under paragraph (1) above shall be
                    disregarded and instead you shall be deemed to have Pension
                    Equity Benefit accruals for three additional years following
                    the Date of Termination. The age and participation service
                    points for each deemed year of accrual shall be calculated
                    based on what your actual age and service would have been at
                    the end of each calendar year had you remained employed with
                    SSA.

               (6) Determination of Age - All other purposes. Except as
               specifically provided otherwise in this paragraph (A), your age,
               as
<PAGE>

Page 23

               well as the age of your spouse, survivor, and/or co-pensioner,
               used in the determination of the amount of benefits payable under
               the applicable pension plan shall be determined using your age
               and their actual ages as of the Date of Termination.

                    (B)  Actual Pension Benefit. The amount of your Actual
          Pension Benefit is determined as the sum of the monthly pension
          benefits payable to you as of the Date of Termination under:

               (1) the tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans, non-
               qualified defined benefit excess benefit plans, and non-qualified
               top-hat or supplemental defined benefit plans sponsored or
               maintained by Steel (or any successor plans or similar plans)
               (the "Steel Pension Plans"), and

               (2) the tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans, non-
               qualified defined benefit excess benefit plans, and non-qualified
               top-hat or supplemental defined benefit plans sponsored or
               maintained by Marathon, MAP or SSA (or any successor plans or
               similar plans) (the "Marathon Pension Plans," the "MAP Pension
               Plans," and the "SSA Pension Plans," as applicable).

                    (vi) Supplemental Savings Benefit. In addition to the
benefits you are entitled to under the USX Corporation Savings Fund Plan for
Salaried Employees and/or the Marathon Oil Company Thrift Plan and the related
non-qualified
<PAGE>

Page 24

supplemental savings plans ("Savings Plans"), the Corporation shall provide to
you in the form of a cash lump sum distribution a benefit equal to the excess,
if any, of:

          (A) the amount you would have been entitled to under the Savings Plans
              determined as if you were fully vested thereunder on the Date of
              Termination, over

          (B) the amount you are entitled to under the Savings Plans on the Date
              of Termination.

                    (vii)  Timing. The payments provided for in this paragraph
(d) shall be made not later than the fifth day following the Date of
Termination.

               (e)  The Corporation shall also pay to you all legal fees and
expenses incurred by you, as such legal fees and expenses are incurred, as a
result of termination of employment (including all such fees and expenses, if
any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to
obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement or in
connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the
application of section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided
hereunder) or otherwise.

               (f)  Other than as provided in Section 4(d)(iii), you shall not
be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 4
by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment
provided for in this Section 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as
the result of employment by another employer, including self-employment, after
the Date of Termination, or otherwise.
<PAGE>

Page 25

          5.   Stock Awards Acceleration.
               -------------------------

                    (a)  Upon a Change in Control, all outstanding options,
restored options, and stock appreciation rights granted to you under any option
or incentive plan of the Corporation shall be immediately fully vested and
immediately exercisable and shall remain so exercisable throughout their entire
original terms, and all restricted stock shall be immediately vested.

                    (b)  If your employment is terminated prior to a Change in
Control and you are entitled to benefits under Section 4(d), as of the Date of
Termination all outstanding options, restored options, and stock appreciation
rights granted to you shall be immediately fully vested and immediately
exercisable and shall remain so exercisable throughout their entire original
terms, and all restricted stock shall be immediately vested.

                    (c)  The terms of this Section 5 shall amend and supercede
the terms of any other agreement or instrument relating to the treatment of such
outstanding options, restored options, stock appreciation rights, and restricted
stock upon or following an Applicable Event.

          6.   Additional Payment.
               ------------------

                    (a)  Whether or not you become entitled to any benefits
under Section 4 above, in the event that there is made any payment in the nature
of compensation to or for your benefit that would be subject to the tax (the
"Excise Tax") imposed by section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), the Corporation shall pay to you, at the time specified in
paragraph (b) below,
<PAGE>

Page 26

an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained
by you shall be equal to the compensation and benefits you would have received
had there been no Excise Tax imposed. For purposes of determining whether any of
the payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise
Tax, (i) any payments or benefits received or to be received by you in
connection with a Change in Control of the Corporation or your termination of
employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan,
arrangement or agreement with the Corporation or with any person whose actions
result in a Change in Control of the Corporation or with any person affiliated
with the Corporation or such person (the "Total Payments") shall be treated as
"parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and
all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) shall
be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, except to the extent that in the
opinion of tax counsel reasonably acceptable to you and selected by the
accounting firm which, immediately prior to the Change in Control, served as the
Corporation's independent auditor (the "Auditor") such other payments or
benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, or such
excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable
compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of section
280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the base amount within the meaning of
section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax,
(ii) the amount of the Total Payments which shall be treated as subject to the
Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the total amount of the Total
Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of
<PAGE>

Page 27

section 280G(b)(1) (after applying clause (i), above), and (iii) the value of
the Total Payments, including the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred
payment or benefit, shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the
principles of section 280G of the Code. For purposes of determining the amount
of the Gross-Up Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which
the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of your residence on
the Date of Termination (or, if there is no Date of Termination, then on the
date of the Change in Control), net of the maximum reduction in federal income
taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. In
the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the
amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up Payment, you
shall repay to the Corporation, at the time that the amount of such reduction in
Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment
attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment
attributable to the Excise Tax, and federal and state and local income tax, and
FICA-Health Insurance tax imposed on the portion of the Gross-Up Payment being
repaid by you if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax or FICA-
Health Insurance tax, and/or a federal and state and local income tax deduction)
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to
exceed the amount taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any
payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the
Gross-Up
<PAGE>

Page 28

Payment), the Corporation shall make an additional gross-up payment in respect
of such excess (plus any penalty, interest or Excise Taxes payable with respect
to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally
determined, such that you retain the same amount of compensation and benefits
you would have received had there been no Excise Tax imposed.

               (b)  The payments provided for in paragraph (a) above shall be
made not later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination (or, if
there is no Date of Termination, not later than the fifth day following the date
of the Change in Control); provided, however, that if the amounts of such
payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Corporation
shall pay to you on such day an estimate as determined in good faith by the
Corporation of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the remainder
of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but
in no event later than the thirtieth day after the Date of Termination (or, if
there is no Date of Termination, not later than the thirtieth day after the date
of the Change in Control). In the event that the amount of the estimated
payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due, such
excess shall constitute a loan by the Corporation to you payable on the fifth
day after demand by the Corporation (together with interest at the rate provided
in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code).

          7.   Successors; Binding Agreement.
               -----------------------------

               (a)  The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct
or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of
<PAGE>

Page 29

the business and/or assets of the Corporation or of any division or subsidiary
thereof employing you to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to
perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Corporation to
obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle you to
compensation from the Corporation in the same amount and on the same terms as
you would be entitled hereunder if you terminate your employment for Good Reason
following an Applicable Event, except that for purposes of implementing the
foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be
deemed the Date of Termination.

               (b)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you
should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder if you had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee or
other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

          8.   Notice.  For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other
               ------
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement.
<PAGE>

Page 30

          9.   Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
               -------------
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by you and such officer as may be specifically designated
by the Board. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

          10.  Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
               --------
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

          11.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several
               ------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

          12.  Claims and Arbitration.
               ----------------------

                  (a)    Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction; provided, however, that you shall be entitled to seek specific
performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the
pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.

                  (b)    If you will be employed by United States Steel
Corporation in connection with the Separation previously referenced in this
Agreement, or in the event that the Separation does not occur, any such
arbitration shall be held in Pittsburgh,
<PAGE>

Page 31

Pennsylvania. If you will not be employed by United States Steel Corporation in
connection with the Separation, following the Separation any such arbitration
will be held in Houston, Texas.

          13.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes any other agreement
               ----------------
or understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the issues that are
the subject matter of this Agreement.

          14.  Effective Date.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the
               --------------
date set forth above. If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject
matter hereof, kindly sign and return to the Corporation the enclosed copy of
this letter which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    USX CORPORATION



                                    By  __________________________
                                        Dan D. Sandman
                                        General Counsel, Secretary &
                                        Senior Vice President-
                                        Human Resources &
                                        Public Affairs



Agreed to this ____ day of

______________, 2001

By __________________________