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                                  Exhibit 10.1

                         SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE

MUST BE RECEIVED BY                ON OR BEFORE
                    --------------              ---------------

                                           TO BE COMPLETED BY
                                                              ------------------
                                           RECEIVED
                                                    ------------------ --------
                                                    Date     Initials

In consideration for the Separation Benefits described in Attachment A dated
December 21, 2001, to this Agreement I, Jon O. Nicholas, voluntarily agree as
follows:

1.   I, on behalf of myself, heirs, administrators, assigns and successors,
     release the Parties Released (as defined in paragraph 4) from any and all
     liability whatsoever for all claims, demands, and causes of action of every
     nature affecting me, which I may have or ever claim to have arising out of
     my employment by Maytag Corporation, its divisions, companies and
     subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Company") including, but not
     limited to my recruitment, selection, retention, payment of compensation,
     employee benefits or retirement, with the exception of:

          (a)  My rights under the Maytag Corporation Employees Retirement Plan
               and Salary Savings Plan (including E.S.O.P.), which have accrued
               through the end of my employment with the Company; and

          (b)  My rights under the Maytag Corporation Deferred Compensation
               Plan, according to the terms of the Plan.

          (c)  Any rights to defense of or indemnification against third party
               claims (Including third party claims such as shareholder
               derivative actions which are nominally treated as claims by the
               Company) to which I am, may or, except for this Agreement, would
               be entitled by law, the Company's Articles of Incorporation or
               any existing insurance agreement, and I agree to cooperate with
               the Company in the defense of any such claims.

          (d)  Rights or claims that arise after the date this Separation
               Agreement and Release (Separation Agreement) is signed or rights
               that cannot be waived by law.

2.   Without limiting the generality of Section 1, I release the Parties
     Released from all claims, demands, and causes of action which were or could
     have been asserted under any legal theory, statute or common law
     whatsoever, including, but not limited to, breach of any express or implied
     contract (whether intentional or otherwise); tort (whether negligent,
     reckless, intentional or otherwise); violation of public policy; violation
     of any federal, state or local law, regulation or

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     ordinance (including, but not limited to, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866,
     1870, and 1871, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the
     Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Employee
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Worker Adjustment
     and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended; the Family and Medical
     Leave Act of 1993, as amended; all state and local civil rights or other
     employment-related laws of Iowa, the state and local civil rights laws of
     Maytag Corporation headquarters; and any other United States federal, state
     or local laws.

3.   Without limiting the generality of Section 1, I also release the Parties
     Released from all claims, demands, and causes of action which could have
     been asserted under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
     amended.

4.   The Parties Released are the Company; its predecessors, successors,
     divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, and parent corporations; the insurers,
     administrators, trustees and fiduciaries of any employee benefit plan
     maintained by or on behalf of any of the foregoing; the officers,
     directors, employees and agents of any of the foregoing; and all other
     persons, firms and corporations.

5.   I agree never to sue any of the Parties Released and I understand and agree
     that I am waiving my right to all relief based on any claim of any type
     whatsoever arising out of or related to my employment or separation from
     employment with the Parties Released. If any claim is made by me or someone
     on my behalf with a state, federal or local civil rights agency such as the
     EEOC, I agree to indemnify the Parties Released for any monies I (or the
     EEOC on my behalf) receive.

6.   I further acknowledge and agree in the event that I breach any part of this
     Separation Agreement: (a) the Parties Released will be entitled to apply
     for and receive an injunction to restrain any violation; (b) I will receive
     no Separation Benefits; (c) I will be obligated to pay to the Parties
     Released its costs and expenses in enforcing this Separation Agreement and
     defending against such lawsuit (including court costs, expenses, and
     reasonable legal fees), and (d) I will be obligated upon demand to repay to
     the Parties Released all but $100.00 of the Separation Benefits paid to me,
     and the foregoing will not affect the validity of this Separation
     Agreement.

7.   This Release extends to any claims which I may have against the Parties
     Released for attorney's fees, expenses and court costs (if any). I
     acknowledge that I am solely responsible for paying my attorney's fees,
     expenses and court costs (if any).

8.   This Release extends to all claims which I do not know or suspect to exist
     in my favor and which, if known at the time of executing this Release, may
     have materially affected this settlement with the Parties Released.

                               B. CONFIDENTIALITY

As additional consideration for the benefits which I will receive in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this agreement, I agree to not disclose, use,
publish, or authorize anyone else to disclose, use or publish, any confidential
or secret technical or non-technical business information pertaining to the
Company, including any of their operations, without the express written consent
of the Company.

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I further agree to immediately return to Maytag Corporation, unless otherwise
agreed in writing, all confidential information and documents in whatever media
or form in my possession or under my control. Confidential Information includes,
but is not limited to, short and long-range plans, product design and
development plans, pricing and marketing strategies, promotional programs,
manufacturing equipment and processes, sales and distribution networks,
organization structure and personnel, and proprietary or confidential
information of third parties which is protected by non-disclosure agreements
between the Company or its operations and any third party.

I further agree that the terms and provisions of this Agreement are
confidential, as well as the circumstances and discussion leading to this
Agreement, and shall not be communicated in any manner to any person except to
my spouse, attorney, tax advisor(s) or as required by court order. My spouse and
tax advisor will be advised that these matters are confidential as well.

                       C. NON-COMPETE AND NONDISPARAGEMENT

Because I am privy to the foregoing Confidential Information and as additional
consideration for the receipt of the Separation Benefits described in the
Letter, I agree to not work as an employee, contractor, consultant, or otherwise
for any competitor of the Company before the end of two years from the date this
agreement is signed in any capacity similar to my employment with Maytag, unless
the Company consents to such work in writing, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld.

I agree not to make, participate in the making of, or encourage any other person
to make, any statements, written or oral, which criticize, disparage, or defame
the goodwill or reputation of, or which are intended to embarrass or adversely
affect the morale of, any of the Parties Released or any of their respective
present, former or future directors, officers, executives, employees and/or
shareholders. I further agree not to make any negative statements, written or
oral, relating to my employment, the termination of my employment, or any aspect
of the business of the Parties Released. I understand that the Company will not
disparage me and that inquiries about my employment will be referred to the
usual Human Resources employment reference person.

                                  D. CONCLUSION

1.   This Agreement shall be subject to the substantive laws (without regard to
     the conflicts of laws provision) of the State of Iowa. In case any portion
     of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the same
     are intended to be severable, shall be construed to be severable, and any
     such invalidity or unenforceability shall neither defeat nor impair the
     remaining provisions of this Agreement.

2.   I agree that neither the existence of this Separation Agreement nor
     anything contained in this Agreement shall constitute an admission of any
     liability on the part of the Parties Released; any and all such liability
     is expressly denied.

3.   I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PERIOD OF TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER
     THIS AGREEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT IN WRITING
     ANY TIME WITHIN SEVEN (7) CALENDAR DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY'S
     HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT. WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY
     THE COMPANY'S LAW DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SEVEN (7) CALENDAR DAY PERIOD. IF I
     DO NOT

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     REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE AFTER THE SEVEN (7) DAY PERIOD
     HAS EXPIRED.

4.   I AGREE THAT NO REPRESENTATION OF ANY FACT OR OPINION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE
     PARTIES RELEASED TO INDUCE THIS AGREEMENT AND I AGREE THAT THE PARTIES
     RELEASED HAVE MADE NO ADMISSIONS OF LIABILITY OF ANY SORT.


5.   I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, AND FREELY AND
     VOLUNTARILY SIGN IT. NO ONE HAS MADE ANY PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS TO ME
     OTHER THAN WHAT IS REFERENCED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND ATTACHMENT "A" DATED
     12/21/01..

THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE. THE COMPANY ADVISES YOU TO CONSULT WITH AN
ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT.

                                             Signed this 14 day of January, 2002


                                             /s/ Jon. O. Nicholas

Attachment: A dated 12/21/01

Note: This document should be signed by 1/21/02 as well on the Date of
      Separation.

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                                  Attachment A
                               Separation Benefits

This memorandum contains the terms and conditions under which your employment
with Maytag Corporation will be terminated if you properly and timely execute
the enclosed Separation Agreement and Release.

LAST DAY AT WORK
----------------

Your assigned responsibilities as Senior Vice President, Human Resources will be
discontinued on the effective Date of Transition. The Date of Transition is the
date when a new Vice President, Human Resources is appointed, which specific
date will be determined by Maytag.

COMPENSATION
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Salary - You will be paid your 2002 approved monthly salary through the
------
effective Date of Transition. As of the effective Date of Transition, you will
continue to work on special projects as a consultant with the same monthly
salary until 12/31/02. After 12/31/02, you will receive a lump sum payment (less
withholding) of the difference of one years' 2002 base salary less the amount
you earned as a consultant in 2002. You will also be paid for vacation accrued,
but unused, through the effective Date of Transition.

You will receive an additional monthly non-qualified retirement benefit payable
from the Maytag Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP) starting January
1, 2003 in the amount of $1400.00 per month payable for your life (or, at your
option, a lesser, but equivalent amount, depending on your election of a "Joint
and Survivor Option.") This benefit is in addition to your accrued qualified
plan and SERP benefits.

ICP and PIAP
------------

ICP - Your 2001 ICP will be computed at 100% personal performance. You will
receive a lump sum payment (less withholding) under the Maytag Corporation 2002
Incentive Compensation Plan (ICP) based on actual company performance for the
plan year and 100% personal performance pro-rated to the Date of Transition and
payable at the regular ICP payout date which is estimated to occur in February
2003 and is at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.

PIAP - If you elect to retire on 12/31/02, you will receive the Performance
Incentive Award Plan benefit eligible to you as a retiree payable at the end of
each performance period.

Financial Counseling - Maytag will pay up to $15,000 of fees charged by a
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qualified financial consultant, payable to the consultant. These fees must be
incurred no later than December 31, 2002. These fees may be taxable income to
you

Tax Preparation
---------------

You will be provided tax preparation service by Ernst and Young under the
company's current plan for executives for the year 2002 at Maytag's expense.
This will be taxable income to you.

Consigned Appliances
--------------------

You may retain the appliances consigned to you under the Executive Appliance
Test Program at no charge. You may also order a full set of home appliances
(majors and floor care) normally available under the executive consignment
program. You have until December 31, 2003 to exercise that benefit.

BENEFITS
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Medical - Your medical, vision, and dental benefits will cease at the end of the
-------
month in which your consulting work ends (12/31/02). You will have the
opportunity to continue medical coverage for an additional period of up to 18
months by payment of the appropriate monthly premium. You will receive a letter
from Maytag that will further

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explain your options. You will then have 60 days from the date of that letter to
make up your mind as to whether you wish to extend your coverage. Long-Term
Disability insurance terminates on the same date.

Life Insurance - Your group life insurance will be discontinued at the same time
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as medical. You should contact Ray Benning at 888-244-4947 to review your
options with regard to your Corporate-sponsored life insurance program.

Savings/Stock Plans - You will have the opportunity to request disbursement of
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all sums from the Maytag Corporation Salary Savings Plan, the Employee Stock
Ownership Plan, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Maytag Deferred
Compensation Plan, or other similar plans (such as the Maytag Stock Option Award
Plan) as applicable under the particular plan requirements. Review these Plans
carefully to determine applicable deadlines.

Pension - Our records indicate that you are 55 or older and have the requisite
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number of years of pension credit to enable you to elect early retirement.
Please note, if you are a full-time employee, by electing early retirement you
may also be eligible for retiree medical coverage, subject to paying your
proportionate cost of the monthly insurance premium. If you do not elect an
early retirement benefit at the end of your employment, 12/31/02, you will still
be eligible to commence your retirement benefit at a later date. However, you
would not be eligible for retiree medical, life insurance, or other retirement
benefits at this later date.

Other:
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The above benefits are also contingent upon your agreement that you will make
yourself available, as may be requested at mutually convenient times and places
with respect to pending and future business or legal matters, arbitrations,
governmental investigations, or other dispute resolutions relating to matters
that arose during your employment. Maytag will reimburse you for all reasonable
expenses and costs you may incur as a result of providing this assistance, upon
receipt of proper documentation.

Please note that you have previously signed a Confidentiality and Intellectual
Property Rights Agreement. The Agreement continues in effect even after your
employment ends with Maytag.

/s/ Ralph F. Hake

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