def14a

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )


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	Check the appropriate box:


	o Preliminary Proxy Statement
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	x Definitive Proxy Statement
	o Definitive Additional Materials
	o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12


	x No fee required.
	o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.


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Illinois Tool Works Inc.

3600 West Lake Avenue

Glenview, Illinois 60026

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Friday, May 2, 2008

3:00 P.M.

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

ITW is holding its 2008 Annual Meeting for the following purposes:


	1.	To elect ten directors for the upcoming year;

	2.	To reapprove the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan; and

	3.	To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ITW’s independent public accountants.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the director nominees, FOR the reapproval of the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ITW’s independent public accountants for 2008.

Stockholders of record on March 4, 2008 are entitled to vote.

It is important that your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting whether or not you plan to attend. To be certain that your shares are represented, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible or vote by telephone or the internet by following the instructions on the proxy card. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting.

Our Annual Report for 2007 is enclosed.

By Order of the Board of Directors,
James H. Wooten, Jr.

Secretary

March 24, 2008

Questions and Answers

Following are questions often asked by stockholders of publicly held companies. We hope that the answers will assist you in casting your vote.

What am I voting on?

We are soliciting your vote on:


	1.	The election of ten directors for the upcoming year;

	2.	The reapproval of the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan; and

	3.	The ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent public accountants for 2008.

Who may vote?

Stockholders at the close of business on March 4, 2008, the record date, may vote. On that date, there were 524,837,261 shares of ITW common stock outstanding.

How many votes do I have?

Each share of ITW common stock that you own entitles you to one vote.

How do I vote?

You may vote your shares in one of the following four ways:


1.	By mail:	Complete the proxy card and sign, date and return it in the enclosed envelope;
2.	By telephone:	Call the toll-free number on the proxy card, enter the 12-digit control number from the proxy card, and follow the recorded instructions;
3.	By internet:	Go to the website listed on the proxy card, enter the 12-digit control number from the proxy card, and follow the instructions provided; or
4.	In person:	Attend the Annual Meeting, where ballots will be provided.

If you hold your shares through a bank or broker that does not offer telephone or internet voting, please complete and return your proxy card by mail.

How does discretionary voting authority apply?

If you sign, date and return your proxy card, your vote will be cast as you direct. If you do not indicate how you want to vote, you give authority to Marvin D. Brailsford, Susan Crown and Harold B. Smith to vote on the items discussed in these proxy materials and on any other matter that is properly raised at the Annual Meeting. If you do not indicate how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR the election of each director nominee, FOR the reapproval of the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent public accountants

and FOR or AGAINST any other properly raised matter at the discretion of Ms. Crown and Messrs. Brailsford and Smith.

May I revoke my proxy?

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting in one of four ways:


	1.	Notify our Secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting that you wish to revoke your proxy;

	2.	Submit another proxy with a later date;

	3.	Vote by telephone or internet after you have given your proxy; or

4. Vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

Your shares are likely registered differently or are in more than one account. You should sign and return all proxy cards to guarantee that all of your shares are voted.

What constitutes a quorum?

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of ITW shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum. Your shares will be considered part of the quorum if you return a signed and dated proxy card or if you vote by telephone or internet. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as “shares present” at the meeting for purposes of determining if a quorum exists. A broker non-vote occurs when your bank, broker or other holder of record holding shares for you as the beneficial owner submits a proxy that does not indicate a vote as to a proposal because that holder does not have voting authority for that proposal and has not received voting instructions from you.

What vote is required to approve each proposal?

Election of Directors: Each nominee who receives a majority of the votes cast with respect to his or her election will be elected. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that director. Any nominee who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast for re-election is expected to tender his or her resignation in accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines as discussed more fully under “Corporate Governance Policies and Practices — Director Election” on page 10. Shares not present at the meeting and shares voting “abstain” have no effect on the election of directors. If you are a beneficial owner, your bank, broker or other holder of record is permitted to vote your shares on the election of directors, even if they do not receive voting instructions from you; therefore, no broker non-votes will occur.

Reapproval of the Performance Factors and Award Limit: A majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and having the power to vote at the Annual Meeting must reapprove the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan. An abstention will have the effect of a vote against the proposal since it is one fewer vote for approval. To the extent there are broker non-votes, they will have no effect since they are not considered shares entitled to vote.

Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Public Accountants: Although we are not required to submit the appointment of our independent public accountants to a vote of stockholders, we believe that it is appropriate to ask that you ratify the appointment. Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ITW’s independent public accountants requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote. An abstention will have the effect of a vote against the ratification since it is one fewer vote for approval. If you are a beneficial owner, your bank, broker or other holder of record is permitted to vote your shares on this ratification, even if they do not receive voting instructions from you; therefore, no broker non-votes will occur.

How do I submit a stockholder proposal?

To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the May 2009 Annual Meeting, a stockholder proposal must be received no later than November 24, 2008. Your proposal must be in writing and must comply with the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You also may submit a proposal that you do not want included in the proxy statement, but that you want to raise at the May 2009 Annual Meeting. If you submit that proposal after February 7, 2009, then SEC rules permit the individuals named in the proxies solicited by our Board of Directors for that meeting to exercise discretionary voting power as to that proposal. You should send your proposal to our Secretary at our address on the cover of this proxy statement.

How do I nominate a director?

If you wish to nominate an individual for election as a director at the May 2009 Annual Meeting, our Secretary must receive your written nomination by December 31, 2008. Our by-laws require that your nomination include: (1) your name and address; (2) the name, age and home and business addresses of the nominee; (3) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (4) the number of shares of ITW stock that the nominee beneficially owns; (5) a statement that the nominee is willing to be nominated and serve as a director; (6) a statement that the nominee will tender his or her resignation in accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines; and (7) any other information regarding the nominee that would be required by the SEC to be included in a proxy statement had our Board of Directors nominated that individual. Any nomination that you make must be approved by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, as well as by our Board of Directors.

Who pays to prepare, mail and solicit the proxies?

We will pay all of the costs of preparing and mailing this proxy statement and soliciting these proxies. We will ask brokers, dealers, banks, voting trustees and other nominees and fiduciaries to forward the proxy materials and our Annual Report to the beneficial owners of ITW common stock. Upon request, we will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses. In addition to mailing proxy materials, our officers, directors and employees may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or otherwise.

Election of Directors

Stockholders are being asked to elect ten directors at the Annual Meeting. The individuals listed below have been nominated by the Board of Directors as recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Each director will serve until the May 2009 Annual Meeting, until a qualified successor director has been elected, or until he or she resigns or is removed. After 12 years of distinguished service, Michael J. Birck is retiring from the Board as of the date of the Annual Meeting and is not standing for re-election.

We will vote your shares as you specify on the enclosed proxy card, by telephone or by internet. If you do not specify how you want your shares voted, we will vote them FOR the election of all the nominees listed below. If unforeseen circumstances (such as death or disability) make it necessary for the Board of Directors to substitute another person for any of the nominees, we will vote your shares FOR that other person. The Board of Directors does not anticipate that any nominee will be unable to serve. The nominees have provided the following information about themselves:


		*William F. Aldinger*, 60, has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Capmark Financial Group Inc., a commercial real estate finance company, since June 2006. Mr. Aldinger retired as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Finance Corporation (formerly Household International, Inc.), a consumer finance company, in April 2005, a position he held since 1994. He also retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its parent company, HSBC North America Holdings Inc., a position he held since December 2003. He serves on the boards of AT&T Inc., KKR Financial Corp. and The Charles Schwab Corporation. Mr. Aldinger has served as a director of ITW since 1998.

		*Marvin D. Brailsford*, 69, retired as Vice President of Kaiser-Hill Company LLC, a construction and environmental services company, in June 2002, a position he had held since September 1996. Prior to his employment with Kaiser-Hill, he served with the United States Army for 33 years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant General. He is a director of Conn’s, Inc. Gen. Brailsford has served as a director of ITW since 1996.


		*Susan Crown*, 49, has served as Vice President of Henry Crown and Company, a business with diversified investments, since 1984. She is a director of Northern Trust Corporation and its subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company. Ms. Crown has served as a director of ITW since 1994.

		*Don H. Davis, Jr.*, 68, retired as Chairman of the Board of Rockwell Automation, Inc., a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information products and services, in February 2005, a position he had held since 1998. From 1997 to 2004, he also served as Rockwell’s Chief Executive Officer. He is a director of Journal Communications, Inc. Mr. Davis has served as a director of ITW since 2000.

		*Robert C. McCormack*, 68, is an Advisory Director of Trident Capital, Inc., a venture capital firm, and was a Partner of Trident from 1993 to the end of 2004. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. McCormack served successively as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Finance and Comptroller). He is a director of DeVry Inc., MeadWestvaco Corporation and Northern Trust Corporation and its subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company. Mr. McCormack has served as a director of ITW since 1993, and previously served as a director of ITW from 1978 through 1987.

		*Robert S. Morrison*, 65, retired as Vice Chairman of PepsiCo, Inc., a beverage and food products company, having served in that position from 2001 to 2003. From 1997 to 2001, prior to its merger with PepsiCo, he was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Quaker Oats Company. He also served as interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 3M Co. from June to December 2005. Mr. Morrison is a director of 3M and Aon Corporation. Mr. Morrison has served as a director of ITW since 2003.


		*James A. Skinner*, 63, has served as Vice Chairman of McDonald’s Corporation, a restaurant chain, since 2003 and Chief Executive Officer since November 2004, previously serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s Restaurant Group from February 2002 to December 2002; President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s Europe, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa from 2001 to 2002; and President of McDonald’s-Europe from 1997 to 2001. He is a director of Walgreen Co. and McDonald’s Corporation. Mr. Skinner has served as a director of ITW since 2005.

		*Harold B. Smith*, 74, is a retired officer of ITW and is a director of W.W. Grainger Inc., Northern Trust Corporation and its subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company. Mr. Smith has served as a director of ITW since 1968.

		*David B. Speer*, 56, has served as Chairman of ITW since May 2006 and as Chief Executive Officer of ITW since August 2005 and was President from August 2004 to May 2006, previously serving as Executive Vice President from 1995 to August 2004. Mr. Speer has 29 years of service with ITW. He is a director of Rockwell Automation, Inc. Mr. Speer has served as a director of ITW since 2005.

		*Pamela B. Strobel*, 55, retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Exelon Corporation and President of Exelon Business Services Company, an electric and gas utility company, in October 2005, a position she had held since 2003, previously serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exelon Energy Delivery from 2000 to 2003. Prior to her employment with Exelon, and prior to the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom Corporation, she served as Executive Vice President of Unicom and its chief subsidiary, ComEd. She is a director of Domtar Corporation and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Ms. Strobel was elected as a director of ITW in February 2008.

Board of Directors and Its Committees

ITW’s Board of Directors met six times during 2007. In addition to meetings of the full Board, directors attended meetings of Board committees. Non-employee directors, all of whom are independent, met four times in regularly scheduled executive sessions. The Chairmen of each of the Board of Directors’ standing committees rotate as the Chairman of executive sessions of the independent directors. The Board of Directors has standing audit, compensation, corporate governance and nominating, and finance committees. Under the terms of their charters, each member of the audit, compensation, and corporate governance and nominating committees must meet applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and SEC independence requirements. ITW encourages its directors to attend all Board and committee meetings and the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In 2007, all of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they serve, and all of the directors attended the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Audit Committee


Meetings in 2007:		4
Members:		Michael J. Birck (Chairman)
		Marvin D. Brailsford
		Don H. Davis, Jr.
		Robert C. McCormack
		James A. Skinner

The Audit Committee is responsible for the engagement of our independent public accountants and assists the Board with respect to matters involving and overseeing: accounting, financial reporting and internal audit functions. The Committee also is responsible for the integrity of ITW’s financial statements; compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the independence and performance of ITW’s independent public accountants; and the performance of ITW’s internal audit function. Additional information on the Committee and its activities is set forth in the “Audit Committee Report” on page 38.

Compensation Committee


Meetings in 2007:		4
Members:		William F. Aldinger (Chairman)
		Susan Crown
		Robert S. Morrison
		James A. Skinner

The Compensation Committee establishes and oversees executive and director compensation policies, including issues relating to pay and performance, targeted positioning and pay mix. The Compensation Committee recommends to the other independent directors compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, reviews and approves the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations regarding the compensation of our other executive officers, and makes recommendations regarding new incentive compensation and equity-based plans or amendments.

Under its charter, the Compensation Committee may retain an independent compensation consultant or other advisors. However, the Compensation Committee has not entered into any consulting agreement or requested that an independent consultant attend Committee meetings or specifically advise the Compensation Committee with respect to ITW’s compensation programs. On a limited basis, ITW management has engaged Hewitt Associates LLC to provide competitive market data (including information with respect to ITW’s peer group companies). From time to time, the Compensation Committee reviews the materials provided by Hewitt Associates LLC to management.

Additional information on the Compensation Committee and the role of management in setting compensation is provided in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 16.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee


Meetings in 2007:		2
Members:		Marvin D. Brailsford (Chairman)
		Susan Crown
		Don H. Davis, Jr.
		Robert S. Morrison
		James A. Skinner

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies, evaluates and recommends director candidates; develops, administers and recommends corporate governance guidelines; oversees the evaluation of the Board and management; and makes recommendations as to Board committees and Board size.

Finance Committee


Meetings in 2007:		2
Members:		Robert C. McCormack (Chairman)
		William F. Aldinger
		Don H. Davis, Jr.
		Robert S. Morrison
		Harold B. Smith

The Finance Committee reviews, evaluates and recommends to the Board management’s proposals relating to ITW’s financing, investment portfolio, real estate investments, and the investment of assets associated with funded U.S. benefit plans and the risks associated with non-U.S. benefit plans.

Corporate Governance Policies and Practices

General

We have long believed that good corporate governance is important to assure that ITW is managed for the long-term benefit of its stockholders. In that regard, we continuously review our corporate governance policies and practices not only for compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the listing standards of the NYSE, but also for good corporate governance principles.

Our Board of Directors has adopted and annually reviews charters for our Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. We maintain a corporate governance section on our website that includes the charters of these committees, ITW’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, ITW’s Statement of Principles of Conduct (our code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees) and ITW’s Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and key financial and accounting personnel. In addition, we will promptly post any amendments to or waivers of the Code of Ethics on our website. You can find this and other corporate governance information at www.itw.com. We also will provide copies of this information upon request.

Communications with Directors

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with any of our directors or with the independent directors as a group by sending an e-mail to independentdirectors@itw.com or by writing to the Independent Directors c/o the Corporate Secretary at our address on the cover of this proxy statement.

Board Independence

Our Board conducts an annual review as to whether each of our directors meets the applicable independence standards of the NYSE. In accordance with the NYSE listing standards, our Board of Directors has adopted categorical standards for director independence. A copy of ITW’s Categorical Standards for Director Independence is attached as Appendix A. A director will not be considered independent unless the Board of Directors determines that the director has no material relationship with ITW (directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with ITW).

The Board has determined that each of the current directors standing for re-election, except David B. Speer, has no material relationship with ITW other than as a director and is independent within the meaning of ITW’s Categorical Standards for Director Independence and the listing standards of the NYSE. In making its independence determinations, the Board of Directors has broadly considered all relevant facts and circumstances including that: (1) Mr. Aldinger serves as a director of a company with which we conduct business; (2) Ms. Crown and Messrs. McCormack and Smith serve as directors of Northern Trust Corporation and its subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company, with which ITW has a commercial banking relationship as described under “Ownership of ITW Stock — Other Principal Stockholders” on page 15; (3) Ms. Crown has an indirect interest in a company with which we conduct business; and (4) Ms. Strobel serves as a director of a company with which

we conduct business. The Board has concluded that these relationships do not impair the independence of the directors.

Director Candidates

Our by-laws permit stockholders to nominate directors for consideration at an annual stockholder meeting. The policy of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is to consider a properly submitted stockholder nomination for election as director. For a description of the process for submitting a director candidate in accordance with ITW’s by-laws, see “Questions and Answers — How do I nominate a director?” on page 3.

Our directors play a critical role in guiding ITW’s strategic direction and oversee the management of ITW. Board candidates are considered based upon various criteria, such as their broad-based business and professional skills and experiences, a global business and social perspective, concern for the long-term interests of our stockholders, and personal integrity and judgment. In addition, directors must have time available to devote to Board activities and to enhance their knowledge of the global manufacturing environment. Accordingly, we seek to attract and retain highly qualified directors who have sufficient time to attend to their duties and responsibilities to ITW.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, or other members of the Board of Directors, may identify a need to add new members to the Board of Directors with specific criteria or simply to fill a vacancy on the Board. At that time the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee would initiate a search, seeking input from Board members and senior management and, to the extent it deems appropriate, engaging a search firm. An initial qualified candidate or a slate of qualified candidates would be identified and presented to the Committee for its evaluation and approval. The Committee would then seek full Board endorsement of the selected candidate(s).

Assuming that a properly submitted stockholder recommendation for a director candidate has been received, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will evaluate that candidate by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as for candidates submitted by other sources, but the Committee has no obligation to recommend that candidate for nomination.

Director Election

At its February 2008 meeting, the Board of Directors amended our by-laws to provide for the election of directors in uncontested elections by majority vote in lieu of the plurality standard that had previously applied. Under this majority vote standard, each director must be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to that director. For this purpose, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director exceeds the number of shares voted “against” that director. In a contested election, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. An election is contested if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected. Whether an election is contested or not is determined ten days in advance of when we file our definitive proxy statement with the SEC. This year’s election is uncontested, and the majority vote standard will apply.

If a nominee who is serving as a director is not elected at the Annual Meeting, Delaware law provides that the director would continue to serve on the Board as a “holdover director” until his or her successor is elected. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, however, require any nominee for director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast for his or her election to tender his or her resignation. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board will consider the resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. In considering the resignation, the Committee will take into account such factors as any stated reasons why stockholders voted against the election of the director, the length of service and qualifications of the director, the director’s contributions to ITW and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board will consider the Committee’s recommendation, but no director who failed to receive a majority of the votes cast will participate. We will disclose the results within 90 days of the Annual Meeting. At the 2007 Annual Meeting, each director received a majority of the votes cast for his or her election.

Director Compensation

Annual Retainer and Chair Fees

The annual retainer for non-employee directors is $135,000, and the annual fee for committee chairs is an additional $5,000, except for the Audit Committee chair, whose annual fee is $15,000. Non-employee directors are given the opportunity to elect annually to receive all or a portion of their annual retainer and chair fees in an equivalent value of ITW common stock pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan. The number of ITW shares to be issued to a director is determined by dividing the dollar amount of the fee subject to the election by the fair market value of ITW common stock on the date the fee otherwise would have been paid in cash.

Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan

Non-employee directors can defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual retainer and chair fees until retirement or resignation. Deferred fee amounts are credited with interest quarterly at current rates. A director can also elect to defer receipt of the ITW common stock received in lieu of a cash payment, in which case the deferred shares are credited as stock units to an account in the director’s name. The account receives additional credit for cash dividends and is adjusted for stock dividends, splits, combinations or other changes in ITW common stock upon retirement, resignation or a corporate change (as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan), with any fractional shares paid in cash.

ITW Common Stock

In 1995, the stockholders approved a plan whereby a portion of each non-employee director’s compensation may include the periodic grant of restricted ITW common stock, thereby directly linking another element of director compensation with ITW’s long-term performance. ITW last granted restricted shares under the plan in February 2004. Currently, there are no restricted shares granted under the plan that have not vested. ITW intends to continue to grant stock to each non-employee director under the Stock Incentive Plan. Effective January 1, 2007, non-employee directors will receive an annual stock grant equivalent in value to approximately $30,000, except that in 2007 Mr. Skinner, who had not received a prior grant, received a stock grant equivalent in value to approximately $69,796. On February 8, 2008, each non-employee director was granted 618 shares of stock.

Phantom ITW Stock

To tie a further portion of their compensation to our long-term performance, non-employee directors of ITW are awarded 1,000 units of phantom stock upon first becoming a director. The value of each unit equals the market value of one share of ITW common stock. Additional units are credited to a director’s phantom stock account in an amount equivalent to cash dividends paid on ITW stock. Accounts are adjusted for stock dividends, stock splits, combinations or similar changes. A director is eligible for a cash distribution from his or her account at retirement or upon approved resignation. When phantom stock is awarded, directors elect to receive the distribution in either a lump sum or in up to ten annual installments. Directors receive the value of their phantom stock accounts immediately upon a change of control.

Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2007

The following table summarizes the compensation for our directors who served during 2007.


	Fees Earned or
	Paid in		Stock
	Cash		Awards		Total
Name(1)	($)(2)(3)		($)(4)		($)

William F. Aldinger	$	140,000	$	29,980	$	169,980
Michael J. Birck	$	150,000	$	29,980	$	179,980
Marvin D. Brailsford	$	140,000	$	29,980	$	169,980
Susan Crown	$	135,000	$	29,980	$	164,980
Don H. Davis, Jr.	$	135,000	$	29,980	$	164,980
Robert C. McCormack	$	140,000	$	29,980	$	169,980
Robert S. Morrison	$	135,000	$	29,980	$	164,980
James A. Skinner	$	135,000	$	69,815	$	204,815
Harold B. Smith	$	140,000	$	29,980	$	169,980


(1)		David B. Speer is not included in this table since he does not receive any compensation for his service as a director.

(2)		The following directors elected to convert fees earned in 2007 to shares of ITW common stock and to defer receipt of those shares:


Name	Fees Deferred in 2007		Number of Shares

William F. Aldinger	$	140,000		2,568
Michael J. Birck	$	150,000		2,752
Don H. Davis, Jr.	$	135,000		2,477
Robert S. Morrison	$	135,000		2,477
James A. Skinner	$	135,000		2,477


(3)		In addition to $135,000 annual retainer, includes committee chair fees ($5,000 for Mr. Aldinger; $15,000 for Mr. Birck; $5,000 for Mr. Brailsford; $5,000 for Mr. McCormack; and $5,000 for Mr. Smith).


(4)		In 2007, each director received an annual stock grant of 581 shares equivalent in value to approximately $30,000, except Mr. Skinner, who did not receive a prior grant, received 1,353 shares equivalent in value to approximately $69,796. In addition, as of December 31, 2007, the directors’ phantom stock accounts had phantom stock unit balances as follows: Mr. Aldinger, 2,255; Mr. Birck, 4,603; Mr. Brailsford, 4,591; Ms. Crown, 4,641; Mr. Davis, 2,221; Mr. McCormack, 4,641; Mr. Morrison, 2,132 and Mr. Skinner, 2,073.

Ownership of ITW Stock

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table shows how much ITW common stock the directors, the named executive officers, and all directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned as of December 31, 2007. The “named executive officers” are our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and the next three most highly compensated executive officers who were serving at the end of the last fiscal year (based on total compensation, less the increase in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings). The “percent of class” calculation is based on 530,096,729 shares of ITW common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2007.

Beneficial ownership is a technical term broadly defined by the SEC to mean more than ownership in the usual sense. In general, beneficial ownership includes any shares a director or executive officer can vote or transfer and stock options that are exercisable currently or that become exercisable within 60 days. Except as otherwise noted, the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power for all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.

The number of the directors’ phantom stock units disclosed in the table represents an equivalent number of shares of ITW common stock as of December 31, 2007. Phantom stock units are not transferable and have no voting rights. The units are not included in the “percent of class” calculation.


	Shares of Common Stock			Phantom		Percent
Name of Beneficial Owner	Beneficially Owned			Stock Units		of Class

Directors (other than Executive Officers)
William F. Aldinger		25,712	(1)		2,255		*
Michael J. Birck		34,628			4,603		*
Marvin D. Brailsford		13,631			4,591		*
Susan Crown		25,581	(2)		4,641		*
Don H. Davis, Jr.		20,450			2,221		*
Robert C. McCormack		18,620,694	(3)		4,641		3.5	%
Robert S. Morrison		52,669			2,132		*
James A. Skinner		5,848			2,073		*
Harold B. Smith		53,786,747	(4)		—		10.1	%
Pamela B. Strobel		—	(5)		—		*
Named Executive Officers
David B. Speer		973,822	(6)		—		*
Ronald D. Kropp		81,772	(7)		—		*
Thomas J. Hansen		505,230	(8)		—		*
Russell M. Flaum		596,655	(9)		—		*
Hugh J. Zentmyer		394,849	(10)		—		*
					—		*
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (27 Persons)		57,801,097	(11)		27,157		10.9	%


*		Less than 1%

(1)		Includes (a) 6,000 shares owned by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Aldinger is an officer and a director; and (b) 200 shares owned by Mr. Aldinger’s spouse, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership.

(2)		Includes (a) 4,000 shares owned by Ms. Crown’s spouse, as to which she disclaims beneficial ownership; and (b) 4,000 shares held in trusts of which Ms. Crown’s children are beneficiaries, as to which she disclaims beneficial ownership.

(3)		Includes (a) 800 shares owned in a trust, as to which Mr. McCormack shares voting and investment power with The Northern Trust Company; (b) 18,219,028 shares owned in twelve trusts, as to which Messrs. McCormack and Smith, one other individual, and The Northern Trust Company are trustees and share voting and investment power (4,858,914 of these shares are pledged to secure lines of credit, which were undrawn as of December 31, 2007); (c) 12,550 shares owned in a limited partnership in which Mr. McCormack owns 99% of the limited partnership units; and (d) 381,535 shares owned in a limited partnership, as to which Messrs. McCormack and Smith and The Northern Trust Company are co-trustees of the four trusts that hold 100% of the limited partnership units.

(4)		Includes (a) 31,670,804 shares owned in eleven trusts and one limited liability company as to which Mr. Smith shares voting and investment power with The Northern Trust Company and others; (b) 2,656,102 shares owned in ten trusts as to which Mr. Smith shares voting and investment power; (c) 18,219,028 shares owned in twelve trusts as to which Messrs. Smith and McCormack and The Northern Trust Company are trustees and share voting and investment power; (d) 793,081 shares owned in a revocable trust; (e) 65,616 shares owned by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Smith is a director; and (f) 381,535 shares owned in a limited partnership, as to which Messrs. Smith and McCormack, one other individual, and The Northern Trust Company are co-trustees of the four trusts that hold 100% of the limited partnership units. Mr. Smith’s address is c/o Corporate Secretary, Illinois Tool Works Inc., 3600 West Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60026.

(5)		Ms. Strobel was elected as a director on February 8, 2008 and did not own any ITW common stock as of December 31, 2007.


(6)		Includes (a) 1,815 shares allocated to Mr. Speer’s account in the ITW Savings and Investment Plan; and (b) 915,000 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days.

(7)		Includes (a) 2,433 shares allocated to Mr. Kropp’s account in the ITW Savings and Investment Plan; and (b) 75,500 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days.

(8)		Includes 483,500 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days.

(9)		Includes (a) 3,885 shares allocated to Mr. Flaum’s account in the ITW Savings and Investment Plan; and (b) 500,000 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days.

(10)		Includes (a) 9,199 shares owned in a revocable trust; (b) 22,028 shares owned by Mr. Zentmyer’s spouse in a trust, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership; (c) 650 shares held in a trust of which Mr. Zentmyer’s brother is the beneficiary and as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership; (d) 16,272 shares allocated to Mr. Zentmyer’s account in the ITW Savings and Investment Plan; and (e) 340,000 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days.

(11)		Includes 3,464,490 shares covered by options exercisable within 60 days and 4,900,381 shares pledged as security.

Other Principal Stockholders

This table shows, as of December 31, 2007, the only stockholders other than a director that we know to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of ITW common stock. We maintain a commercial banking relationship with The Northern Trust Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Northern Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation. Susan Crown, Robert C. McCormack and Harold B. Smith, directors of ITW, are also directors of Northern Trust Corporation and The Northern Trust Company. The commercial banking relationship between ITW and The Northern Trust Company may involve, but is not strictly limited to, the following services: creating and maintaining deposit accounts, credit services, investment banking services, payment and collection services, trade services, credit enhancement or payment guaranty, acting as agent or fiduciary, consulting services, risk management services, and broker dealer services. In addition, The Northern Trust Company serves as the trustee under ITW’s principal pension plans. The banking and trustee relationships with The Northern Trust Company are conducted in the ordinary course of business on an arms-length basis. Banking, investment management, trustee and other administrative fees paid to The Northern Trust Company by ITW were approximately $2.1 million in 2007.


Name and Address of	Shares of Common Stock			Percent
Beneficial Owner	Beneficially Owned			of Class

The Northern Trust Company		67,647,444	(1)		12.4	%
50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60675
Capital World Investors		31,918,000	(2)		5.9	%
333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071
UBS AG		31,609,890	(3)		5.8	%
Bahnhofstrasse 45 P.O. Box CH-8021 Zurich, Switzerland
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc.		28,694,201	(4)		5.3	%
2200 Ross Avenue, 31^st Floor Dallas, TX 75201


(1)		The Northern Trust Company and its affiliates act as sole fiduciary or co-fiduciary of trusts and other fiduciary accounts that own an aggregate of 67,647,444 shares. They have sole voting power with respect to 19,244,480 shares and share voting power with respect to 46,344,283 shares. They have sole investment power with respect to 7,506,218 shares and share investment power with respect to 50,250,950 shares. In addition, The Northern Trust Company holds in other accounts, but does not beneficially own, 34,637,877 shares, resulting in aggregate holdings by The Northern Trust Company of 102,285,521 shares, or 19.3%. This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2008.

(2)		Capital World Investors, an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and a division of Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), is deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares as a result of CRMC acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. It has sole voting power with respect to 4,432,200 shares and shares voting power with respect to none of the shares. It has sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares. This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2008.

(3)		UBS Global Asset Management (Americas), Inc. (“UBS Global”), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates are deemed to be the beneficial owners of these shares. UBS Global has sole voting power with respect to 27,938,845 shares and shares voting power with respect to none of the shares. It has shared dispositive power with respect to all of the shares. UBS AG, classified as a bank pursuant to no action relief granted by the staff of the SEC, is the parent holding company of UBS Global. UBS AG has disclaimed beneficial ownership of these shares. This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2008 by UBS AG (for the benefit and on behalf of its Global Asset Management business group).

(4)		Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, owns an aggregate of 28,694,201 shares. It has sole voting power with respect to 7,827,921 shares and shares voting power with respect to 20,866,280 shares. It has sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares. This information was provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2008.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that ITW’s executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of ITW common stock with the SEC and the NYSE. Based on a review of copies of these reports provided to us during fiscal 2007 and written representations from executive officers and directors, we believe that all filing requirements were met during 2007, except that Russell Flaum was inadvertently late in filing one Form 4 reporting two transactions and E. Scott Santi was inadvertently late in filing one Form 4 reporting five transactions.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

ITW emphasizes a total compensation approach in establishing individual executive compensation levels, with each element of compensation serving a specific purpose. ITW’s compensation program consists primarily of short-term cash compensation (base salaries and annual cash incentives), longer-term equity compensation (stock options), and retirement benefits. ITW retains the flexibility to recognize and reward superior company, business unit and

individual performance by differentiating the cash incentive and equity awards made to individual executives. In the course of 2007, we undertook a comprehensive review of our compensation program for senior management with the objective of confirming our approach to delivering total compensation. We focused on establishing compensation structures and the relative weightings for base salary, annual cash incentives, and longer-term incentives in delivering levels of total compensation that meet the objectives of being both performance based and market competitive.

In making its executive compensation decisions and recommendations, the Compensation Committee is guided by the following factors:


	•	Our compensation philosophy.

	•	Compensation comparisons from a peer group of diversified multinational industrial companies.

	•	Management’s contribution to our short-term and long-term growth.

Compensation Philosophy

Our compensation philosophy is reflective of our overall operating philosophy and management structure and is intended to:


	•	Provide employees with a competitive pay arrangement.

	•	Target base salaries at market, which would be median or 50th percentile.

	•	Drive pay for performance through a competitive short-term incentive cash bonus program, which links pay primarily to business unit performance and individualized objectives.

	•	Reward long-term performance and provide for capital accumulation through awards of stock options or stock grants.

Peer Companies

We have selected a group of comparable companies to benchmark executive pay, providing competitive market data references to be used in establishing and recommending each element of compensation. This group was selected using the following criteria:


	•	Size as measured by revenue — generally not less than 1/3 or more than 3 times ITW’s annual revenue.

	•	Similar-type businesses — multinational, diversified and industrial.

	•	Top quartile performance related to revenue growth, earnings growth, earnings per share growth and return on invested capital.

	•	Companies with which we compete for stockholders, business and talent.

For 2007, the 18 companies comprising the peer group were:


3M	Eaton Corporation	Masco Corporation
Caterpillar Inc.	Emerson Electric Company	Parker Hannifin Corporation
Cooper Industries Ltd.	Honeywell International Inc.	Textron Inc.
Danaher Corporation	Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd.	TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation
Deere & Company	ITT Corporation	Tyco International Ltd.
Dover Corporation	Johnson Controls, Inc.	United Technologies Corporation

The nature of ITW’s highly decentralized and diverse lines of business presents challenges in identifying similar organizations for comparison purposes, however, we believe that the peer group selected provides relevant comparisons.

Management’s Contributions to Our Growth

ITW’s management structure is decentralized and puts emphasis on line management. This structure allows us to give unusually substantial operating authority to executive officers and is an important element in developing and retaining our senior managers and in creating high job satisfaction. The general managers of our businesses are empowered to make the decisions necessary to serve their customers and grow their businesses and are accountable for their business unit’s results. Our executive management’s role is to ensure that these decisions are carried out in accordance with our values, principles and expectations for the near and long term and, are in general, in the best interests of our stockholders.

Use of Discretion in Setting Compensation

ITW’s compensation programs recognize the importance of ensuring that discretion as related to market conditions and both individual and business unit performance is provided to the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Compensation Committee in determining compensation levels and awards. In setting base salaries and annual cash incentive award maximums, and in determining grants of stock options, the CEO and Compensation Committee use judgment to align compensation with respect to both external data and an internal comparison of individual responsibilities, potential and achievement.

Compensation Decisions and Individual Compensation Levels

There are no material differences in the policies and decision processes used in setting compensation for the CEO and the other named executive officers. However, the different levels of compensation for the named executive officers as shown in the Summary Compensation Table of this proxy statement reflect internal factors such as each executive’s scope of responsibility, impact on profitable growth, and breadth of experience, as well as external market data from the peer companies. On an annual basis, the CEO reviews the total compensation of senior executives and makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee based on the peer company compensation information and his assessment of each executive’s individual performance. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the independent directors regarding the CEO’s compensation based on an assessment of the CEO’s performance and information relative to compensation of CEOs of the peer companies. The Compensation Committee believes that it is appropriate to benchmark total compensation for the CEO to the

levels of base salary, annual incentive, and longer-term incentives being provided to CEOs of comparable multinational and diversified industrial organizations, as previously described under “Peer Companies.”

Base Salary

In determining base salary, the CEO and the Compensation Committee consider the size and scope of the executives’ responsibilities and the median base salary of similar positions at our peer companies, as well as the executive officers’ past experience, performance and future potential. Using the median as a general reference provides an appropriate base salary that encourages solid performance year after year. Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjustments are intended to recognize an executive officer’s performance and contributions over the prior year, as well as any significant changes in duties or scope of responsibility. Adjustments to base salary also take into account peer group information and how base salary factors into achieving levels of total compensation.

The 2007 compensation program review followed the Compensation Committee’s approval in December 2006 of base salary increases that became effective during the course of 2007 on the respective anniversary dates for the CEO and for the other named executive officers. As part of the review, we moved to a common review date of January for base salary and incentive compensation opportunity changes for our senior executive officers. This process allows the Compensation Committee and the CEO to review base compensation and discuss recommended changes in December considering individual contributions to overall financial and operating results for the year and to set objectives for the upcoming year.

In December 2007, the Compensation Committee noted that the 2007 base salary for the CEO and the base salaries for the other named executive officers were below the median of the peer group comparisons and approved base salary adjustments that would become effective January 2008. These salary adjustments brought the base salaries of these executive officers closer to the median levels.

The 2007 calendar year compensation for the named executive officers is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table on page 25 of this proxy statement.

Annual Cash Incentives

We believe that management should be rewarded for contributions to our overall financial success measured by the year-over-year income growth of their business unit, their group or ITW, as well as for individual accomplishments that contribute to the longer-term health of the business. Annual cash incentive awards are made under the stockholder-approved provisions of the ITW Executive Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee considers recommendations from the CEO and approves annual cash incentives for our executive officers. The Compensation Committee determines and recommends for approval by the independent directors the award amount for the CEO.

The plan is designed around two elements: income growth (the “P” factor) and personal objectives (the “O” factor). For 2007 theses factors were weighted equally.

Participation in our Executive Incentive Plan is limited to those who have an impact on the profitable growth of the business or who have significant responsibility for a major element of business growth. The P factors are recommended by management and approved by the Compensation Committee annually. The individual O factors for the CEO are established by the Compensation Committee annually, and the individual O factors for each other named executive officer are recommended by the CEO and approved by the Compensation Committee.

Individual award maximums, expressed as percentages and applied to year-end base salary, are determined in accordance with the executive’s level of responsibilities and accountability. Although we generally do not establish any specific target or prescribed value, comparisons are made to median annual cash incentive levels in the peer group compensation data. ITW’s annual cash incentives are variable and structured to provide awards above these median levels only upon the achievement of exceptional financial results and individual performance objectives. For the 2007 plan year, the award maximums were 140% for Mr. Kropp and 200% for the other named executive officers. Payments under the plan are made following the end of the fiscal year after approval by the Compensation Committee.

For 2007, both the P and O factors had a payout range of 0% to 100% of the maximum for the named executive officers. For the 2007 P factor, income was compared to the prior year (2006) to measure the percentage of increase. Participants begin to earn payment for the P factor once 80% of the applicable prior year income is achieved. At the 80% achievement level, the P factor award payout is 34% of the maximum payment. At the 100% achievement level, the payout is 75% of the maximum payment. For the named executive officers, a maximum P factor payout of 100% only occurs when 115% achievement of prior year income is reached.

The objectives for O factors are more subjective than the P factors. For 2007, Mr. Speer’s objectives were focused on succession planning, leadership development, long-range business planning, and a review of ITW’s compensation program for senior executives. For the other named executive officers, 2007 objectives were generally focused on leadership development, emerging market growth initiatives, acquisition integration and succession planning. Each individual objective is assigned a relative weighting. At the end of the year, each named executive officer submits a written self-appraisal and overall score of achievement. For the named executive officers, other than the CEO, the appraisals are reviewed by the CEO. The self-appraisal for the CEO is reviewed by the Compensation Committee. These reviews consider completion of objectives, relative weightings and the quality of the work performed. Therefore, an element of judgment is involved in assigning individual levels of achievement for the O factors. A distinguished level of achievement provides a maximum 100% payment.

The following payout grid was used to determine the P factor award component for 2007 (for example, 75% of the maximum P factor award would be paid if 2007 income from continuing operations performance was 100% of prior year results):


	Maximum P
% of Achievement	Factor Award%

115% and above		100	%
110%		90	%
105%		82.5	%
100%		75	%
95%		65	%
90%		57	%
85%		47	%
80%		34	%
79% and below		0	%

The 2007 P factors for Messrs. Speer and Kropp were entirely based on the year-over-year percentage of increase in corporate income from continuing operations. For the other named executive officers, the P factor was based 75% on the year-over-year percentage of increase of the operating income for their respective businesses and 25% on the year-over-year percentage of increase of corporate income from continuing operations. The following table shows the respective earnings achieved in 2006 and 2007 considered in the determination of the P factor award for the named executive officers:


	2006		2007
	Corporate/Unit		Corporate/Unit		% of			% of P
Named Executive Officer	Income Levels (000s)		Income Levels (000s)		Achievement			Factor Award

D. Speer	$	1,680,577	$	1,826,079		108.7	%		88.1	%
R. Kropp	$	1,680,577	$	1,826,079		108.7	%		88.1	%
T. Hansen(1)	$	978,177	$	987,263		102.9	%		79.4	%
R. Flaum(1)	$	340,171	$	322,521		98.3	%		71.6	%
H. Zentmyer(1)	$	447,817	$	489,122		109.1	%		88.7	%


(1)		The composite % of Achievement are: Mr. Hansen, 102.9% (.25 at 108.7% + .75 at 100.9%); Mr. Flaum, 98.3% (.25 at 108.7% + .75 at 94.8%); and Mr. Zentmyer, 109.1% (.25 at 108.7% + .75 at 109.2%).

Based on the Compensation Committee’s review of the individual 2007 O factor objectives and actual achievements for Mr. Speer, and upon Mr. Speer’s recommendations for the other named executive officers, the following O factor percentages were assigned: 90% for Mr. Speer; 96% for Mr. Kropp; 95% for Mr. Hansen; 85% for Mr. Flaum; and 96% for

Mr. Zentmyer. The 2007 awards for the named executive officers ranged from 92.35% to 78.30% of the individual maximum award level, and were determined as follows:


				Year-End
	Award			2007		P Factor					O Factor					Total
Executive Officer	Maximum			Salary		Achievement			Amount		Achievement			Amount		Award(1)

D. Speer		200	%	$	1,000,000		88.1	%	$	881,000		90	%	$	900,000	$	1,781,000
R. Kropp		140	%	$	285,600		88.1	%	$	176,130		96	%	$	191,923	$	368,053
T. Hansen		200	%	$	459,000		79.4	%	$	364,446		95	%	$	436,050	$	800,496
R. Flaum		200	%	$	376,829		71.6	%	$	269,810		85	%	$	320,305	$	590,114
H. Zentmyer		200	%	$	357,700		88.7	%	$	317,280		96	%	$	343,392	$	660,672


(1)		These amounts are shown in the Summary Compensation Table under “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

The named executive officers may elect to defer 6% to 85% of their annual incentive award to their ITW Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan (ECRIP) account. ECRIP is further described under “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” elsewhere in this proxy statement. Also, under the terms of the ITW 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, an officer may elect to take up to 50% of the award in the form of ITW common stock.

For 2008, the P factor payout for the 2008 awards will again be based on the year-over-year percentage of increase in income, but the weighting will be changed to 60% of each named executive officer’s potential award opportunity with the remaining 40% based on the O factor objectives. In addition, the weighting of income for operating executives will change to 33% of corporate results and 67% of their respective businesses. These changes are intended to place greater emphasis on the financial performance element and reinforce the increasing need to collaborate across businesses. Messrs. Speer’s and Kropp’s maximum P factors will remain 100% based on the year-over-year percentage of increase of corporate income from continuing operations. Additionally, the award maximum for Mr. Kropp will be increased to 150% of salary to bring that award closer to the CFO of the peer group median. The award maximums of 200% of salary will remain unchanged for the other named executive officers.

Long-Term Stock Incentives

We believe that ensuring the long-term growth and health of the business is a primary management responsibility. Therefore, a significant portion of an executive officer’s compensation should be directly linked to how ITW stock performs over time, encouraging decisions that consider the long-term perspective. Stock incentive awards have generally been made in the form of stock options and are granted to a relatively small number of executives whose positions can truly affect the company’s long-term performance. We believe that, at this time, in comparison to other forms of non-performance based stock incentives, stock options more effectively incent participants on a long-term basis since the greater the increase in stock price, the greater the value of the option to the participant. If the price of ITW’s common stock falls below the grant price, the option has no value to the participant.

The Compensation Committee approves awards of stock options to the named executive officers in conjunction with an annual equity award program review. Award amounts for the named executive officers, other than the CEO, are recommended by the CEO based on a number

of factors, including the executive officer’s position, performance, and ability to influence ITW’s long-term growth and profitability over a period of years. The Compensation Committee also reviews the compensation values and types of equity awards for peer company positions, although it does not establish any specific target or prescribed values to be achieved in relation to the peer company data. The executive’s level of prior equity awards and level of stock ownership relative to established stock ownership guidelines as described below are also considered in the review. Applying the same considerations, the Compensation Committee recommends to the independent directors for approval the number of stock options to be awarded to the CEO.

Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and expire ten years after the grant date. This approach is designed to motivate the executive to contribute to the creation of stockholder value over the long term. We currently grant only non-qualified stock options because we believe that the tax benefits to ITW of non-qualified stock options outweigh the potential tax benefits to the named executive officers of incentive stock options.

Stock options vest over a specified period determined by the Compensation Committee. The 2007 stock options vest in equal installments over a four-year period ending in 2011. The Compensation Committee has established specific vesting and expiration provisions associated with termination of employment due to death, disability and retirement, as defined by the Compensation Committee, and forfeiture provisions upon any other termination of employment. Under change in control or certain divestiture conditions, all stock options become vested and exercisable. The Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may deem a stock option award to be immediately forfeited if the recipient is terminated for cause (as defined by the Committee), competes with ITW, or engages in conduct adversely affecting ITW.

The Compensation Committee approved at its February 2007 meeting stock option awards to executive officers and certain other key employees under the provisions of the ITW 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. Stock options granted in 2007 to the named executive officers are shown in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table presented elsewhere in this proxy statement.

At its February 2008 meeting, the Compensation Committee granted the following number of stock options, with a four-year vesting period ending in 2012, to the named executive officers: Mr. Speer: 500,000; Mr. Kropp: 70,000; Mr. Hansen: 200,000; Mr. Flaum: 80,000; and Mr. Zentmyer: 80,000.

Timing of Stock Option Awards

The Compensation Committee currently meets in February of each year to consider and act with respect to stock option awards for the executive officers for that fiscal year. The Compensation Committee’s February meeting follows ITW’s public release of its earnings results for the recently completed fiscal year. The Compensation Committee acts in compliance with the ITW 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, including the requirement that stock options may not be granted at less than 100% of the fair market value of ITW’s common stock on the date of grant. At its February 2008 meeting, the Board amended the Stock Incentive Plan to change the definition of fair market value from the average of the high and low trading prices on the grant date to the closing price on the grant date. The exercise price of the options granted at that meeting was

based on the closing price of ITW’s stock on that date. We do not time grants of stock options for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation.

Perquisites & Other Benefits

In general, we do not provide perquisites to our named executive officers that are not available to other employees. We do, however, provide the reimbursement of up to $7,500 per year for financial, tax and estate planning services. This is taxable to the extent required by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). No named executive officer received in excess of $10,000 in perquisites during 2007, so no perquisites are disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

We believe that stock ownership is important because it links the interests of ITW’s management and directors with those of our stockholders. Because of the importance of stock ownership, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee have adopted stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and directors that they and we believe are appropriate, reasonable and attainable given their responsibilities and compensation levels. As mentioned above, stock ownership relative to the guidelines is one of the factors considered in determining individual stock option awards. The recommended guidelines for stock ownership as a multiple of executive officers’ base pay salaries and of directors’ annual retainers are as follows: chief executive officer, five times; vice chairman and executive vice presidents, three times; senior vice presidents, two times; vice presidents, one time; and non-employee directors, four times. The Compensation Committee recommends that an executive officer or non-employee director achieve the applicable ownership level within five years. The achievement of these guidelines is reviewed annually. All named executive officers and directors who have been in their positions for five or more years have either satisfied or exceeded the applicable stock ownership guideline. We do not have a policy regarding hedging the economic risk of this ownership.

Financial Restatements

We do not have a policy beyond the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to retroactively adjust compensation in the event of a restatement of financial or other performance results. We believe that this issue is best addressed when the need actually arises, taking into consideration the specific facts regarding the restatement.

Deductibility

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) limits the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid to the CEO and certain other executive officers employed at year end. Certain performance-based compensation and deferred compensation are not included in compensation for purposes of the limit. The Compensation Committee recognizes its obligation to reward performance that increases stockholder value and exercises its discretion in determining whether or not to conform our executive compensation plans to the approach provided for in the Internal Revenue Code.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

We do not have any plans or agreements that are specific and unique to executive officers regarding termination of employment or a change in control of the company. However, we do have provisions contained in our pension plans, the 1996 and 2006 ITW Stock Incentive Plans, the Executive Incentive Plan, and the ECRIP that provide for retirement benefits, immediate vesting of unvested stock options or certain payments to participants in those plans in the event of a change in control or certain termination events. You can find further detail below under “Executive Compensation — Potential Payments Upon Termination or Corporate Change” on page 33.

Executive Compensation

This section of the proxy statement provides information regarding the compensation of our named executive officers. Each of the following tables reflects the two-for-one split of our common stock effected on May 18, 2006.

Summary Compensation Table


											Change
											in Pension
											Value and
									Non-Equity		Nonqualified
									Incentive Plan		Deferred		All Other
Name and					Stock		Option		Compensation		Compensation		Compensation
Principal Position	Year		Salary(1)		Awards(2)		Awards(2)		(1)(3)		Earnings(4)		(5)(6)		Total

David B. Speer		2007	$	948,077		—	$	2,512,995	$	1,781,000	$	1,310,313	$	89,708	$	6,642,093
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		2006	$	815,385	$	366,586	$	1,691,916	$	1,615,000	$	818,965	$	83,305	$	5,391,157

Ronald D. Kropp		2007	$	259,708		—	$	311,989	$	368,053	$	54,530	$	16,520	$	1,010,530
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer(1)		2006	$	217,727	$	38,492	$	111,998	$	212,288	$	38,449	$	14,395	$	633,349

Thomas J. Hansen		2007	$	447,231		—	$	1,102,416	$	800,496	$	410,195	$	43,023	$	2,803,361
Vice Chairman		2006	$	402,244	$	366,586	$	422,550	$	782,000	$	343,590	$	41,087	$	2,358,057

Russell M. Flaum		2007	$	374,599		—	$	502,599	$	590,114	$	445,719	$	35,811	$	1,948,842
Executive Vice President		2006	$	360,192	$	366,586	$	225,360	$	648,581	$	404,790	$	41,857	$	2,047,366

Hugh J. Zentmyer		2007	$	351,162		—	$	1,173,221	$	660,672	$	442,558	$	35,126	$	2,662,739
Executive Vice President		2006	$	334,469	$	307,016	$	366,589	$	652,441	$	387,548	$	37,914	$	2,085,977


(1)		Salary and non-equity incentive plan compensation for 2007 includes amounts deferred by the executive under the Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan (ECRIP) or the Savings and Investment Plan. The amount of salary deferrals in 2007 for each named executive officer can be found in footnote 1 to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 32. Deferrals in 2008 of non-equity incentive plan amounts earned in 2007 were as follows: Mr. Speer, $498,680; Mr. Kropp, $36,805; Mr. Hansen, $160,099; Mr. Flaum, $147,529; and Mr. Zentmyer, $66,067.

(2)		Represents the expense recognized by ITW in its financial statements as detailed in the Footnote 2 Table below. The assumptions applicable to this valuation can be found on page 71 of the 2006 and page 69 of the 2007 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Annual Report to Stockholders.

Footnote 2 Table


			1/2/2004		1/2/2004		12/10/2004		12/10/2004		02/01/2006		02/01/2006		02/09/2007		02/09/2007		Total
			Restricted		Restricted		Stock		Stock		Stock		Stock		Stock		Stock		Stock
			Stock		Stock		Option		Option		Option		Option		Option		Option		Option
			Grant		Grant		Grant		Grant		Grant		Grant		Grant		Grant		Grants
			Shares		Expense		Shares		Expense		Shares		Expense		Shares		Expense		Expense
			Vesting		Recognized		Vesting		Recognized		Vesting		Recognized		Vesting		Recognized		Recognized
Name	Year		(#)		($)		(#)		($)(a)		(#)		($)		(#)		($)		($)

David B. Speer		2007		—		—		75,000		—		100,000	$	1,232,651		—	$	1,280,344	$	2,512,995
		2006		8,800	$	366,586		75,000	$	565,115		100,000	$	1,126,801		—		—	$	1,691,916
Ronald D. Kropp		2007		—		—		2,500	$	27,488		7,500	$	92,449		—	$	192,052	$	311,989
		2006		924	$	38,492		2,500	$	27,488		7,500	$	84,510		—		—	$	111,998
Thomas J. Hansen		2007		—		—		37,500		—		37,500	$	462,244		—	$	640,172	$	1,102,416
		2006		8,800	$	366,586		37,500		—		37,500	$	422,550		—		—	$	422,550
Russell M. Flaum		2007		—		—		20,000		—		20,000	$	246,530		—	$	256,069	$	502,599
		2006		8,800	$	366,586		20,000		—		20,000	$	225,360		—		—	$	225,360
Hugh J. Zentmyer		2007		—		—		20,000		—		20,000	$	401,026		—	$	772,195	$	1,173,221
		2006		7,370	$	307,016		20,000		—		20,000	$	366,589		—		—	$	366,589


(a)		Since Messrs. Speer, Hansen, Flaum and Zentmyer were retirement eligible as defined by the terms of this grant, all expenses were recognized by us prior to 2007.


(3)		Represents amounts awarded under our Executive Incentive Plan, based on the executive’s base salary as of December 31 for that year and paid in the following year. Further information regarding this plan and awards thereunder can be found above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Annual Cash Incentives” on page 19 and below under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” on page 27.

(4)		Included in these amounts are benefits accrued in the measurement year ended as of September 30, 2007 under the ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan and the ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan and interest in calendar year 2007 considered to be in excess of market rates with respect to deferred compensation accounts. Under our deferred compensation plan (the Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan, or ECRIP), which is discussed in more detail on page 32 under “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation,” when a participant attains “retirement” eligibility at age 55 and 10 years of service, his or her account is entitled to a return of 130% of the monthly Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average and the excess interest portion is deemed to be amounts exceeding 100% of the monthly Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average. This additional interest credit applies to all eligible plan participants, not just the named executive officers. The individual amounts of pension benefits and excess interest credits are shown in the table below.

Footnote 4 Table


			10/1 — 9/30		10/1 — 9/30		Excess Interest		Change in Pension Value and
			Accrual in		Accrual in		Credit on Deferred		Nonqualified Deferred
Name	Year		Accumulation Plan		Nonqualified Plan		Compensation		Compensation Earnings ($)

David B. Speer		2007	$	55,211	$	1,173,289	$	81,813	$	1,310,313
		2006	$	46,772	$	711,127	$	61,066	$	818,965
Ronald D. Kropp		2007	$	22,159	$	26,155	$	6,216	$	54,530
		2006	$	19,446	$	14,630	$	4,373	$	38,449
Thomas J. Hansen		2007	$	76,880	$	277,424	$	55,891	$	410,195
		2006	$	77,695	$	219,341	$	46,554	$	343,590
Russell M. Flaum		2007	$	53,563	$	356,372	$	35,784	$	445,719
		2006	$	31,355	$	343,470	$	29,965	$	404,790
Hugh J. Zentmyer		2007	$	107,611	$	299,499	$	35,448	$	442,558
		2006	$	101,045	$	255,886	$	30,617	$	387,548


(5)		ITW offers few perquisites and none are disclosed here as the combined value of perquisites for any single named executive officer does not exceed $10,000.


(6)		For 2007, this number represents company matching contributions to the ECRIP account or the Savings and Investment Plan based on plan formulas for all participants as follows: $89,708 for Mr. Speer; $16,520 for Mr. Kropp; $43,023 for Mr. Hansen; $35,811 for Mr. Flaum; and $35,126 for Mr. Zentmyer. Dividends on restricted shares are not included for 2007 since all restricted shares were vested.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The table below provides information regarding plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers during fiscal 2007 under the Executive Incentive Plan and the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.


									All Other
									Option				Grant Date
									Awards:				Fair Value
			Estimated Future Payouts						Number of		Exercise or		of Stock
			Under Non-Equity						Securities		Base Price		and
			Incentive Plan Awards(1)						Underlying		of Option		Option
	Grant		Threshold		Target		Maximum		Options		Awards		Awards
Name	Date		($)		($)		($)		(#)		($/Sh)(2)		($)(3)

David B. Speer		02/09/2007	$	340,000	$	1,600,000	$	2,000,000		400,000	$	51.60	$	5,756,000
Ronald D. Kropp		02/09/2007	$	67,973	$	319,872	$	399,840		60,000	$	51.60	$	863,400
Thomas J. Hansen		02/09/2007	$	156,060	$	734,400	$	918,000		200,000	$	51.60	$	2,878,000
Russell M. Flaum		02/09/2007	$	128,122	$	602,926	$	753,658		80,000	$	51.60	$	1,151,200
Hugh J. Zentmyer		02/09/2007	$	121,618	$	572,320	$	715,400		80,000	$	51.60	$	1,151,200


(1)		These columns reflect the range of potential payouts under the Executive Incentive Plan for the named executive officers as set by the Compensation Committee in February 2007 for 2007 performance. Since there is no minimum achievement for the O factors, the “threshold” estimated future payout is based on the minimum P factor payout of 34%, which is realized upon achievement of 80% of prior year income performance. “Target” estimated future payout is based on a P factor of 75%, which is realized upon achievement of 100% of prior year income performance, and 85% achievement of the relevant O factors. “Maximum” estimated future payout is based on a P factor payout of 100%, which is realized upon achievement of 115% of prior year income performance, and 100% achievement of the relevant O factors. Actual payments, as approved by the Compensation Committee in February 2008 for achievement of 2007 performance, can be found in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 25.

(2)		Grant date fair market value was equal to the average of the highest and lowest trading prices of our common stock on the date of grant. Grant date market closing price was $51.32.

(3)		Based on an implied value of $14.39 per share as determined by the binomial method under Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2007

This table sets forth details, on an award-by-award basis, regarding the outstanding equity awards held by each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2007. As of that date, there were no unvested stock awards held by any executive officer; however, outstanding option awards are set forth below.


	Option Awards
	Number of		Number of
	Securities		Securities
	Underlying		Underlying
	Unexercised		Unexercised			Option
	Options		Options			Exercise		Option
	(#)		(#)			Price		Expiration
Name	Exercisable		Unexercisable			($)		Date

David B. Speer		60,000		—		$	29.1250		12/11/2008
		60,000		—		$	32.7500		12/17/2009
		150,000		—		$	27.9375		12/15/2010
		120,000		—		$	31.1250		12/14/2011
		225,000		75,000	(1)	$	47.1300		12/10/2014
		200,000		200,000	(2)	$	42.0800		02/01/2016
		—		400,000	(3)	$	51.6000		02/09/2017
Ronald D. Kropp		4,000		—		$	29.1250		12/11/2008
		6,000		—		$	32.7500		12/17/2009
		16,000		—		$	27.9375		12/15/2010
		12,000		—		$	31.1250		12/14/2011
		7,500		2,500	(1)	$	47.1300		12/10/2014
		15,000		15,000	(2)	$	42.0800		02/01/2016
		—		60,000	(3)	$	51.6000		02/09/2017
Thomas J. Hansen		60,000		—		$	32.7500		12/17/2009
		66,000		—		$	27.9375		12/15/2010
		120,000		—		$	31.1250		12/14/2011
		112,500		37,500	(1)	$	47.1300		12/10/2014
		75,000		75,000	(2)	$	42.0800		02/01/2016
		—		200,000	(3)	$	51.6000		02/09/2017
Russell M. Flaum		50,000		—		$	29.1250		12/11/2008
		60,000		—		$	32.7500		12/17/2009
		150,000		—		$	27.9375		12/15/2010
		120,000		—		$	31.1250		12/14/2011
		60,000		20,000	(1)	$	47.1300		12/10/2014
		40,000		40,000	(2)	$	42.0800		02/01/2016
		—		80,000	(3)	$	51.6000		02/09/2017
Hugh J. Zentmyer		120,000		—		$	27.9375		12/15/2010
		100,000		—		$	31.1250		12/14/2011
		60,000		20,000	(1)	$	47.1300		12/10/2014
		40,000		40,000	(2)	$	42.0800		02/01/2016
		—		80,000	(3)	$	51.6000		02/09/2017


(1)		Stock options vest at the rate of 25% per year, with a remaining vesting date of December 10, 2008.

(2)		Stock options vest at the rate of 25% per year, with remaining vesting dates of December 7, 2008 and 2009.

(3)		Stock options vest at the rate of 25% per year, with vesting dates of February 9, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

This table provides information for each named executive officer concerning the exercise of stock options during fiscal 2007. No named executive officer had any unvested restricted stock in 2007. The value realized upon the exercise of options is calculated using the difference between the option exercise price and the market price at the time of exercise multiplied by the number of shares underlying the option.


	Option Awards
	Number of
	Shares
	Acquired		Value Realized
	on Exercise		on Exercise
Name	(#)		($)

David B. Speer		—		—
Ronald D. Kropp		4,000	$	117,414
Thomas J. Hansen		60,000	$	1,625,604
Russell M. Flaum		55,000	$	1,424,250
Hugh J. Zentmyer		—		—

Pension Benefits

The following table provides information regarding participation by the named executive officers in pension benefit plans through our financial statement measurement date of September 30, 2007. No payments were made to a named executive officer under the plans in 2007.


		Number of			Present
		Years of			Value of
		Credited			Accumulated
		Service			Benefit
Name	Plan Name	(#)			($)(1)

David B. Speer	ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan		29.303		$	630,622
	ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan		29.303		$	3,598,940
Ronald D. Kropp	ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan		13.833		$	127,307
	ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan		13.833		$	52,469
Thomas J. Hansen	ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan		27.006		$	1,380,118
	ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan		27.006		$	1,372,838
Russell M. Flaum	ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan		32.000		$	541,504
	ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan		32.000		$	1,793,755
Hugh J. Zentmyer	ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan		37.750	(2)	$	1,622,284
	ITW Nonqualified Pension Plan		37.750	(2)	$	784,395


(1)		Values represent benefits accrued as of September 30, 2007, the same pension plan measurement date that we use for financial reporting purposes. Assuming the individual receives a lump sum distribution at normal retirement, present values are based on the 6.25% discount rate used for financial reporting purposes.

(2)		Mr. Zentmyer actually has 39.269 years of service, but the Signode pension plan in which he participated prior to 1987 only recognized service after 1969.

ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan

We maintain the ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan (the “Pension Plan”) for the benefit of eligible employees of participating U.S. business units to provide a portion of the income necessary for retirement. The Pension Plan was closed to new entrants effective January 1, 2007. The Pension Plan is structured as a “pension equity plan” under which a participant accumulates certain percentages for each year during his or her years of plan participation. The accumulated percentages (from both columns shown below), when multiplied by final average annual pay (generally, salary and executive incentive payable in the years from the highest five out of the last ten complete calendar years of service), produce an amount that can be received as a lump sum payment or an actuarially equivalent lifetime annuity. For each year of credited service after December 31, 2000, percentages are structured as follows:


			On Final Average Pay in Excess
Age During the Year	On Total Final Average Pay		of Covered Compensation(1)

Less than 30		2%		2%
30-34		3%		2%
35-39		4%		2%
40-44		5%		2%
45		7%		2%
46-49		7%		6%
50-54		10%		6%
55-59		13%		6%
60 or older		16%		6%


(1)		Covered compensation is a 35-year average of the maximum earnings recognized in calculating Social Security benefits. For 2007, the amount of covered compensation for an individual attaining age 65 was $53,820, while for an employee age 33 or younger it was $97,500.

The Pension Plan’s normal retirement age is the latter of age 65 or the fifth anniversary of employment if the participant was hired after age 60. A Pension Plan participant is vested after five years of employment.

Prior to 2001, the Pension Plan operated under a traditional annuity formula (a normal retirement benefit equal to 1% of final average pay and 0.65% of such pay in excess of covered compensation for each of the first 30 years of credited service plus 0.75% of average pay for any additional years). Accrued benefits as of December 31, 2000 under the traditional annuity formula were converted to an initial pension equity percentage by calculating the lump sum value of the normal retirement annuity and dividing by the average annual pay at that time. Anyone who had participated in the Pension Plan for five years as of December 31, 2000 and whose age plus vesting service equaled at least 50 years was entitled to additional pension equity credits of 4% of final average pay per year for up to 15 years of credited service.

As part of the transition to the pension equity formula, anyone who participated in the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2000, had at least five years of vesting service and had attained age 50 by that date, was entitled to a benefit under the pre-2001 formula if that benefit was more valuable than the benefits calculated under the new formula.

The Pension Plan adopted in 2001 does not provide for a specific early retirement age but, once a participant is vested, he or she can terminate employment and receive the lump sum computed under the above formula or an actuarially equivalent immediate annuity benefit. The pre-2001 Pension Plan provided that upon attaining age 55 with at least 10 years of service, a participant could elect an early retirement pension. If the sum of the participant’s age and service at early retirement was at least 90, the portion of the benefit that is based solely on total average pay would not be reduced; otherwise, that portion would be reduced at the rate of 0.25% for each month early retirement occurred before the normal retirement date. The portion of the pre-2001 formula that was based on pay in excess of covered compensation was subject to reductions of 1/180th for each of the first 60 months prior to the normal retirement date and 1/360th for each additional month. Any lump sum elected under the pre-2001 formula would be computed as the actuarial present value of an early retirement benefit commencing no earlier than age 62. Messrs. Hansen, Flaum and Zentmyer are subject to alternative calculations under the pre-2001 Pension Plan formula.

Nonqualified Pension Plan

The Nonqualified Pension Plan is maintained to make up for benefits that cannot be paid under the tax-qualified Pension Plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations on the amount of compensation that may be considered and the amount of benefit that may be payable. ITW has not considered granting additional years of service to executive officers under the plan and, therefore, does not currently have a policy on such grants. For the most part, the Nonqualified Pension Plan uses the same formulas and other computation elements as the Pension Plan with certain exceptions, including the following:

1. The Pension Plan uses net compensation after deferrals under the current Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan and the Nonqualified Pension Plan uses total eligible compensation (generally salary and non-equity incentive compensation).

2. The Nonqualified Pension Plan provides that a participant who leaves ITW without having retired will forfeit any plan benefits other than those attributable to any deferred compensation that reduces Pension Plan considered pay below the maximum pay ($225,000 in 2007) that may be recognized under a tax-qualified plan.

3. For those who are entitled to an alternative benefit under the Pension Plan’s traditional annuity formula in effect prior to 2001, the Nonqualified Pension Plan will convert that benefit to a lump sum at an interest rate equal to 120% of the long-term Applicable Federal Rate (the “AFR”) for the first month of the prior quarter.

4. In addition to the annuity and lump sum options available under the Pension Plan, a participant in the Nonqualified Pension Plan may elect to receive fixed monthly installments over up to 20 years calculated using the AFR.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The following table sets forth information regarding participation by the named executive officers in our Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plans (“ECRIP”) during fiscal year 2007. There were no withdrawals by, or distributions to, a named executive officer under the ECRIP in 2007.


	Executive		Registrant		Aggregate		Aggregate Balance
	Contributions in		Contributions in		Earnings in		at December 31,
	2007		2007		2007		2007
Name	($)(1)		($)(2)		($)(3)		($)(3)(4)

David B. Speer	$	689,219	$	89,708	$	344,268	$	4,835,263
Ronald D. Kropp	$	73,170	$	16,520	$	26,591	$	392,507
Thomas J. Hansen	$	268,208	$	43,023	$	238,134	$	3,287,245
Russell M. Flaum	$	152,192	$	35,811	$	152,617	$	2,087,706
Hugh J. Zentmyer	$	96,849	$	35,126	$	150,819	$	2,058,521


(1)		Includes deferrals of 2007 salary reflected in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table (Mr. Speer, $237,019; Mr. Kropp, $51,941; Mr. Hansen, $111,808; Mr. Flaum, $22,476; and Mr. Zentmyer, $31,605). Also includes deferrals of 2006 executive incentive amounts paid in 2007 reflected in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2006 (Mr. Speer, $452,200; Mr. Kropp, $21,229; Mr. Hansen, $156,400; Mr. Flaum, $129,716; and Mr. Zentmyer, $65,244).

(2)		These amounts are also included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2007.

(3)		Footnote 4 to the Summary Compensation Table sets forth above-market interest included in aggregate earnings in this table. If Mr. Kropp’s employment is terminated prior to him being “retirement eligible”, he will forfeit above-market interest of $6,216 for 2007 and $21,372 in the aggregate.

(4)		In addition to 2007 contributions and excess interest as disclosed for 2007 in footnote 4 to the Summary Compensation Table, includes the following amounts of executive and registrant contributions to the ECRIP and excess interest earned in the year ended December 31, 2006 reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for that year: Mr. Speer, $342,013; Mr. Kropp, $50,776; Mr. Hansen, $181,998; Mr. Flaum, $87,230; and Mr. Zentmyer, $93,437.

In 1985, ITW established an Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan (the “1985 ECRIP”), which offered designated executives an opportunity to defer a portion of their salary and executive incentive earned in 1985 through 1989 to a deferred compensation account, to receive the matching contributions they would otherwise receive if such deferrals had been made under our tax-qualified Savings and Investment Plan (in lieu of any matching contributions under that plan) and to receive a rate of interest on the account equal to 130% of the monthly Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average if their employment ended due to death, disability or retirement after age 55 with at least ten years of service (five years if over age 65). The account was to be credited with 100% of the monthly Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average if the executive left employment before death, disability or retirement. During 2007, the crediting rate ranged from 5.85% to 6.24% for persons not yet retirement eligible and 7.60% to 8.12% for those who were retirement eligible.

With certain exceptions, the 1985 ECRIP account is paid in monthly installments over 15 years following a death, disability or retirement event and in a lump sum following any other

termination of employment. Messrs. Speer and Hansen were designated as eligible for the 1985 ECRIP.

In 1993, ITW established a new Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plan (the “Current ECRIP” and, together with the 1985 ECRIP, the “ECRIP”), which has most of the same features as the 1985 ECRIP. All of the named executive officers are eligible for the Current ECRIP. The Current ECRIP has a limit on the amount of interest under the monthly Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average that would be recognized (12% annualized), a return of deferral feature whereby an individual could elect to receive a return of the principal amount deferred after a period of at least five years, and options for payment following death, disability or retirement in a lump sum or in monthly installments over 2 to 20 years.

A Current ECRIP participant can defer up to 50% of his or her salary and up to 85% of his or her executive incentive. The minimum deferral of either salary or executive incentive is 6%, which results in the 3.5% maximum matching contribution on either component under the Savings and Investment Plan formula. In addition to the foregoing matching contributions under the Savings and Investment Plan, deferrals under the Current ECRIP reduce the compensation that may be recognized for that plan and for the tax-qualified Pension Plan.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Corporate Change

The following describes the potential payments upon termination or a change of control of ITW for the named executive officers. ITW does not maintain any individual plans or agreements with regard to the treatment of executive officers for termination or change of control purposes. The compensation payouts described below are provided under specific plans, including the Executive Contributory Retirement Income Plans, the Retirement Accumulation Plan, the Nonqualified Pension Plan, the Executive Incentive Plan and the ITW 1996 and 2006 Stock Incentive Plans. These plans provide for compensation to all participants in the plans in the event of a change of control or certain termination events.

The information set forth below assumes the effective date of the termination event is the last business day of the fiscal year, December 31, 2007.

In the event of involuntary termination upon a corporate change, death or disability, all unvested stock options held by the named executive officers would immediately vest. In the event of a termination due to early retirement, as no named executive officer was at least 62 years of age at that time, the stock options granted in February 2006 and 2007 will not vest, but all other unvested stock options will vest for each named executive officer other than Mr. Kropp, who is not eligible for early retirement. The following amounts are the value of stock options accelerated upon termination, determined using the excess, if any, of $53.54 (the closing price of ITW common stock on December 31, 2007) over the option exercise price and assuming that all unvested and accelerated stock options are exercised upon the termination event: Mr. Speer, $480,750; Mr. Hansen, $240,375; Mr. Flaum, $128,200; and Mr. Zentmyer, $128,200.

The Executive Incentive Plan provides that if a participant is employed as of the last day of the fiscal year, he or she would receive any amounts earned under the Executive Incentive Plan for that fiscal year. If the termination of employment other than for death, disability or retirement occurs prior to the last day of the fiscal year, a participant forfeits his or her award;

however, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to award an amount prorated for the portion of the fiscal year that the participant was employed. As discussed in more detail above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Annual Cash Incentives,” actual amounts earned based on performance by the named executive officers in 2007 were as follows: Mr. Speer, $1,781,000; Mr. Kropp, $368,053; Mr. Hansen, $800,496; Mr. Flaum, $590,114; and Mr. Zentmyer, $660,672.

As discussed above under the “Pension Benefits — ITW Retirement Accumulation Plan” on page 30, employees meeting certain age and service conditions were entitled to the greater of the pension benefit under the pension equity formula or a benefit under the pre-2001 formula. The latter formula provides a potential for a so-called “early retirement subsidy” to the extent that the early reduction adjustments do not reflect an actuarial equivalence between the benefit at early payment and the normal retirement benefit. Messrs. Hansen, Flaum and Zentmyer are subject to those alternate calculations. Under any termination scenario discussed below, as of December 31, 2007, the named executive officers are eligible for the following amounts under the Pension Plan and the Nonqualified Pension Plan:


			Nonqualified
Name	Pension Plan		Pension Plan		Total

David B. Speer	$	622,228	$	4,639,909	$	5,262,137
Ronald D. Kropp	$	127,837	$	80,497	$	208,334
Thomas J. Hansen	$	1,908,286	$	1,929,438	$	3,837,724
Russell M. Flaum	$	552,750	$	2,105,809	$	2,658,559
Hugh J. Zentmyer	$	1,903,857	$	869,271	$	2,773,128

Under any termination scenario discussed below, executive officers in the ECRIP, our nonqualified deferred compensation plans, would be entitled to payments of their account balances either in a lump sum or in a series of installments they may elect with respect to distributions commencing after age 55 and the completion of at least ten years of service. Unless an ECRIP participant meeting the latter requirement elected prior to termination to defer commencement of such payments to a later date, payments commence as of the first of the month following termination.

The following amounts show the January 1, 2008 present value (calculated at a 6.25% discount rate) of the payments that would be made pursuant to plan terms and the named executive officers’ previous elections if their termination of employment had occurred on the last business day of the fiscal year, assuming the 130% of Moody’s crediting rate on their ECRIP account(s) remained at the average rate credited in 2007 of 8.0563% throughout the distribution period: Mr. Speer, $4,872,305; Mr. Kropp, $371,134; Mr. Hansen, $3,568,211; Mr. Flaum, $2,297,705; and Mr. Zentmyer, $2,151,644.

Voluntary Termination (prior to age 55 or less than 10 years of service)

Mr. Kropp is the only named executive officer eligible for voluntary termination. As noted above, he would be eligible to receive payments under the Executive Incentive Plan, the Pension Plan, and the ECRIP.

Retirement Prior to Age 65 (minimum 55 years of age and 10 years of service)

All of the named executive officers, other than Mr. Kropp, are eligible for retirement benefits if they retire prior to age 65 because they are at least 55 years of age and have 10 years of service. As noted above, they would be eligible to receive payments under the Executive Incentive Plan, 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, Pension Plan, Nonqualified Pension Plan, and the ECRIP.

Normal Retirement (65 years of age and 10 years of service)

None of the named executive officers are eligible for termination benefits for normal retirement as none have reached the age of 65.

Involuntary Not for Cause Termination

The named executive officers would be eligible to receive payments shown above, in the case of Mr. Kropp, under “Voluntary Termination,” or in the case of each other named executive officer, under “Retirement Prior to Age 65.”

Involuntary Termination upon a Corporate Change

Under the ITW 1996 and 2006 Stock Incentive Plan and the Executive Incentive Plan, a Corporate Change is defined as (1) a dissolution, (2) a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction after which the stockholders immediately prior to the effective date thereof hold less than 70% of the outstanding common stock of the surviving entity, (3) a sale of all or substantially all of ITW’s assets (specified for purposes of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan as assets with a gross fair market value of at least 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of ITW’s assets), or (4) more than a 50% turnover in the membership of the Board of Directors under circumstances not approved by the then-current Board.

The named executive officers are eligible to receive payments under the Pension Plan, the Nonqualified Pension Plan, and the ECRIP, as mentioned above. In addition, as set forth in the table below, under the Executive Incentive Plan, they would be entitled to a lump sum payment representing the maximum P factor and O factor awards payable for the fiscal year, and all of their unvested stock option awards received under the ITW 1996 and 2006 Stock Incentive Plans would immediately vest.


	Executive		1996 Stock		2006 Stock
Name	Incentive Plan		Incentive Plan		Incentive Plan		Total

David B. Speer	$	2,000,000	$	2,772,750	$	776,000	$	5,548,750
Ronald D. Kropp	$	399,840	$	187,925	$	116,400	$	704,165
Thomas J. Hansen	$	918,000	$	1,099,875	$	388,000	$	2,405,875
Russell M. Flaum	$	753,658	$	586,600	$	155,200	$	1,495,458
Hugh J. Zentmyer	$	715,400	$	586,600	$	155,200	$	1,457,200

Disability or Death

In the event a named executive officer becomes permanently disabled or dies, the named executive officer would be eligible for the same maximum payments under these plans as those described above under “Involuntary Termination upon a Corporate Change.”

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2007 about ITW’s existing equity compensation plans, the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.

(c)

Number of securities

(a)

(b)

remaining available for

Number of securities

Weighted-average

future issuance under

to be issued upon

exercise price of

equity compensation

exercise of outstanding

outstanding

plans (excluding

options, warrants and

options, warrants

securities reflected in

Plan Category

rights

and rights

column (a))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

20,688,040

39.70

44,563,326

(1)


(1)		These shares remain available for issuance under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors hereby furnishes the following report to the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement. Based on our review and discussions, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2007.

This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Compensation Committee:

William F. Aldinger, Chairman

Susan Crown

Robert S. Morrison

James A. Skinner

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Practices Regarding Related Transactions

We review related-party transactions in accordance with our Statement of Principles of Conduct, by-laws and Corporate Governance Guidelines rather than a separate written policy. A related-party transaction is a transaction involving ITW and any of the following persons: a director, director nominee or executive officer of ITW; a holder of more than 5% of ITW common stock; or an immediate family member or person sharing the household of any of these persons.

Our Statement of Principles of Conduct states that our directors, officers and employees must avoid engaging in any activity, such as related-party transactions, that might create a conflict of interest or a perception of a conflict of interest. These individuals are required to raise for consideration any proposed or actual transaction that they believe may create a conflict of interest. Our by-laws provide that no related-party transaction is void or voidable solely because a director has an interest if (1) the material facts are disclosed to or known by the Board of Directors and the transaction is approved by the disinterested directors or an appropriate Board committee comprised of disinterested directions, (2) the material facts are disclosed to or known by the stockholders and the transaction is approved by the stockholders, or (3) the transaction is fair to ITW as of the time it is approved. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board will apply established Categorical Standards for Director Independence in making its independence determinations. Under the standards, certain relationships between ITW and a director would preclude a director from being considered independent.

On an annual basis, each director and executive officer completes a Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaire, which requires disclosure of any transactions with ITW in which he or she, or any member of his or her immediate family, has a direct or indirect material interest. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews these Questionnaires and discusses any related-party transaction disclosed therein.

In addition, under its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing, approving, ratifying or disapproving all proposed related-party transactions that, if entered into, would be required to be disclosed under the rules and regulations of the SEC. In reviewing related-party transactions, the Audit Committee considers the factors set forth in our Statement of Principles of Conduct, by-laws and Corporate Governance Guidelines as well as other factors, including ITW’s rationale for entering into the transaction, alternatives to the transaction, whether the transaction is on terms at least as fair to ITW as would be the case were the transaction entered into with a third party, and the potential for an actual or apparent conflict of interest. No member of the Audit Committee having an interest in a related-party transaction may participate in any decision regarding that transaction.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of five independent directors, as defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that all Audit Committee members are “financially literate” and that Messrs. Birck, Davis, McCormack and Skinner meet the Securities and Exchange Commission criteria of “audit committee financial expert”. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which was most recently reviewed by the Committee in February 2008.

The Committee is responsible for providing oversight to ITW’s financial reporting process through periodic meetings with ITW’s independent public accountants, internal auditors and management in order to review accounting, auditing, internal control and financial reporting matters. The Committee is also responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing: (a) the integrity of ITW’s financial statements; (b) ITW’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (c) the independent public accountants’ qualifications, independence and performance; and (d) the performance of ITW’s internal audit function. ITW’s management is responsible for the preparation and integrity of the financial reporting information and related systems of internal controls. The Committee, in carrying out its role, relies on ITW’s senior management, including senior financial management, and ITW’s independent public accountants.

We have reviewed and discussed with senior management the audited financial statements included in the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders. Management has confirmed to the Committee that the financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have reviewed and discussed with senior management their assertion and opinion regarding internal controls included in the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Management has confirmed to the Committee that internal controls over financial reporting have been appropriately designed, and are operating effectively to prevent or detect any material financial statement misstatements. We have also reviewed and discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, ITW’s independent public accountants, its audit and opinion regarding ITW’s internal controls as required by Section 404, which opinion is included in the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders.

We have reviewed and discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committee) under which Deloitte & Touche LLP must provide us with additional information regarding the scope and results of its audit of ITW’s financial statements. This information includes: (1) Deloitte & Touche LLP’s responsibility under generally accepted auditing standards; (2) significant accounting policies; (3) management judgments and estimates; (4) any significant audit adjustments; (5) any disagreements with management; and (6) any difficulties encountered in performing the audit.

We have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter providing the disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) with respect to any relationships between Deloitte & Touche LLP and ITW that in its professional judgment may reasonably be thought to bear on independence. Deloitte &

Touche LLP has discussed its independence with us, and has confirmed in the letter that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of ITW within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

The Committee also discussed with ITW’s internal auditors and independent public accountants the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets periodically with the internal auditors and independent public accountants, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of ITW’s internal controls, and the overall quality of ITW’s financial reporting.

Based on the reviews and discussions described above, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements included in ITW’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders be included in ITW’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Michael J. Birck, Chairman

Marvin D. Brailsford

Don H. Davis, Jr.

Robert C. McCormack

James A. Skinner

Reapproval of the Performance Factors and Award Limit
Under the Executive Incentive Plan

In 2001, stockholders approved the material terms of performance-based awards under the Executive Incentive Plan. We sought stockholder approval in response to the deductibility limits of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) limits ITW’s federal income tax deduction to $1,000,000 of compensation paid in a taxable year to an employee who, on the last day of the taxable year, was (a) the Chief Executive Officer; or (b) among the three highest compensated executive officers whose compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table of the proxy statement. If, however, compensation is based on objective goals, the criteria for which has been approved by stockholders, that compensation is not counted for purposes of the limit. The stockholders must also have approved the eligibility requirements for and maximum amount of the compensation.

The effectiveness of the 2001 stockholder approval of the material terms of these performance goals has expired. The Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of ITW that certain awards paid under the Executive Incentive Plan be eligible to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) so that they are exempt from Section 162(m) limits on the deductibility of compensation. As a result, we are asking you to reapprove the performance criteria under which certain Executive Incentive awards will be made and the maximum amount of those awards. We are not amending and not asking you to approve any amendments to the plan.

The Executive Incentive Plan provides for cash payments based on achievement of specific corporate, operating group or individual performance objectives. The Compensation Committee administers the plan and approves key employees who contribute to ITW’s profitability and growth for participation in the plan. Awards under the plan are based on the extent to which the performance objectives have been attained and are paid following the release of our audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year. The maximum award qualifying under Section 162(m) payable to any key employee for any calendar year is $5,000,000.

The Board of Directors recommends that the Compensation Committee be authorized to base performance objectives under the Executive Incentive Plan on one or more of the following factors: generation of free cash, earnings per share, revenues, market share, stock price, cash flow, retained earnings, results of customer satisfaction surveys, aggregate product price and other product price measures, diversity, safety record, acquisition activity, management succession planning, improved asset management, improved operating margins, increased inventory turns, product development and liability, research and development integration, proprietary protections, legal effectiveness, handling SEC or environmental issues, manufacturing efficiencies, system review and improvement, service reliability and cost management, operating expense ratios, total stockholder return, return on sales, return on equity, return on invested capital, return on assets, return on investment, net income, operating income, and the attainment of one or more performance goals relative to the performance of other corporations. These are the same performance factors that the stockholders approved in 2006 with respect to the ITW 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.

The Board also recommends that you approve the maximum amount of the award that may be granted under the Executive Incentive Plan as described above. This is the same award limit that the stockholders approved in 2001.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of
the performance factors and award limit

Ratification of the Appointment of
Independent Public Accountants

The Audit Committee has engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as ITW’s independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Deloitte & Touche LLP has been employed to perform this function for ITW since 2002.

Audit Fees

Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Deloitte Entities”) will bill us approximately $13,375,000 for professional services in connection with the 2007 audit, as compared with $10,002,000 for the 2006 audit of the annual financial statements and internal controls. These fees relate to: (i) the audit of the annual financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; (ii) the review of the quarterly financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; (iii) the internal controls audit required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and (iv) statutory audits.

Audit-Related Fees

During 2007 and 2006, the Deloitte Entities billed us approximately $401,000 and $524,000, respectively, for audit-related services. These fees relate to work performed with respect to acquisition-related due diligence and other technical accounting assistance.

Tax Fees

These fees include work performed by the Deloitte Entities for 2007 and 2006 with respect to tax compliance services such as assistance in preparing various types of tax returns globally ($4,881,000 and $4,306,000, respectively) and tax planning services, often related to our many acquisitions and restructurings ($942,000 and $5,429,000, respectively).

All Other Fees

The aggregate fees for all other services rendered by the Deloitte Entities for 2007 and 2006 were approximately $150,000 and $3,000, respectively. These fees relate to internal control reviews and sundry services performed at operating units.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approval of all audit and non-audit related work to be performed by ITW’s independent public accountants. As a part of those procedures, the Audit Committee performs a qualitative analysis of all non-audit work to be performed by our independent public accountants. Each year, the Audit Committee receives a detailed list of the types of audit-related and non-audit related services to be performed, along with estimated fee amounts. The Audit Committee then reviews and pre-approves audit work and certain categories of tax and other non-audit services that may be performed. In conducting its analysis, the Audit Committee carefully contemplates the nature of the services to be provided and considers whether such services: (i) are prohibited under applicable rules; (ii) would result in our independent public accountants auditing their own work;

(iii) would result in our independent public accountants performing management functions; (iv) would place our independent public accountants in a position of acting as an advocate for the company; or (v) would present a real risk of a conflict of interest or otherwise impair our independent public accountants’ independence. The Audit Committee also annually pre-approves the budget for annual GAAP, statutory and benefit plan audits. ITW’s management provides quarterly updates to the Audit Committee regarding year-to-date expenditures versus budget for audit and non-audit services. The Audit Committee also considers whether specific projects or expenditures could potentially affect the independence of ITW’s independent public accountants.

Although we are not required to do so, we believe that it is appropriate for us to request stockholder ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent public accountants. If stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will investigate the reasons for the stockholders’ rejection and reconsider the appointment. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement and respond to questions.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment
of Deloitte & Touche LLP

APPENDIX A

CATEGORICAL STANDARDS FOR DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE


I.	Introduction

To be considered independent, a director of the Company must meet all of the following Categorical Standards for Director Independence. In addition, a director who is a member of the Company’s Audit Committee must meet the heightened criteria set forth below in Section IV to be considered independent for the purposes of membership on the Audit Committee. These categorical standards may be amended from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Directors who do not meet these categorical standards for independence can also make valuable contributions to the Company and its Board of Directors by reason of their knowledge and experience.

In addition to meeting the standards set forth below, a director will not be considered independent unless the Board of Directors of the Company affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). In making its determination, the Board of Directors shall broadly consider all relevant facts and circumstances. Material relationships can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships, among others. For this purpose, the Board does not need to reconsider relationships of the type described in Section III below if such relationships do not bar a determination of independence in accordance with Section III below.


II.	Definitions

An “immediate family member” includes a person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such person’s home. When considering the application of the three-year period referred to in each of paragraphs III.1 through III.5 below, the Company need not consider individuals who are no longer immediate family members as a result of legal separation or divorce, or those who have died or become incapacitated.

The “Company” includes any subsidiary in its consolidated group.

III. Standards for Directors

The following standards have been established to determine whether a director of the Company is independent:


1.	A director is not independent if the director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer¹of the Company. Employment as an interim Chairman or CEO or other executive officer shall not disqualify a director from being considered independent following that employment.

2.	A director is not independent if the director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $100,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). Compensation received by a director for former service as an interim Chairman or CEO or other executive officer need not be considered in determining independence under this test. Compensation

¹ For purposes of this paragraph III, the term “executive officer” has the same meaning specified for the term “officer” in Rule 16(a)-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Rule 16a-1(f) defines “officer” as a company’s president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the company in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the company. Officers of the company’s parent(s) or subsidiaries shall be deemed officers of the company if they perform such policy-making functions for the company.

A-1

received by an immediate family member for service as an employee of the Company (other than an executive officer) need not be considered in determining independence under this test.


3.	A director is not independent if: (A) the director or an immediate family member is a current partner of a firm that is the company’s internal or external auditor; (B) the director is a current employee of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and who participates in the firm’s audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that time.

4.	A director is not independent if the director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee.

5.	A director is not independent if the director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues².

6.	Stock ownership in the Company by directors is encouraged and the ownership of a significant amount of stock, by itself, does not bar a director from being independent.


IV.	Standards for Audit Committee Members

In addition to satisfying the criteria set forth in Section III above, directors who are members of the Company’s Audit Committee will not be considered independent for purposes of membership on the Audit Committee unless they satisfy the following criteria:


1.	A director who is a member of the Audit Committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors, or any other Board committee, accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Company or any subsidiary thereof, provided that, unless the rules of the New York Stock Exchange provide otherwise, compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the Company (provided that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service).

2.	A director who is a member of the Audit Committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors or any other Board committee, be an affiliated person of the Company or any subsidiary thereof.

3.	If an Audit Committee member simultaneously serves on the audit committees of more than three public companies, the Board must determine that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Company’s Audit Committee.

² In applying this test, both the payments and the consolidated gross revenues to be measured shall be those reported in the last completed fiscal year. The look-back provision for this test applies solely to the financial relationship between the Company and the director or immediate family member’s current employer; the Company need not consider former employment of the director or immediate family member. Contributions to tax-exempt organizations shall not be considered “payments” for purposes of this test, provided, however, that the Company shall disclose in its annual proxy statement any such contributions made by the Company to any tax-exempt organization in which any independent director serves as an executive officer if, within the preceding three years, contributions in any single fiscal year from the Company to the organization exceeded the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such tax exempt organization’s consolidated gross revenues.

A-2

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE
ATTN: SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS
GLENVIEW, IL 60026-1215

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Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Illinois Tool Works Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

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ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

Proposals - The Board of Directors recommends a vote

FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.

Election of Directors:

For

Against

Abstain

1a.

William F. Aldinger

1b.

Marvin D. Brailsford

For

Against

Abstain

1c.

Susan Crown

1h.

Harold B. Smith

1d.

Don H. Davis, Jr.

1i.

David B. Speer

1e.

Robert C. McCormack

1j.

Pamela B. Strobel

1f.

Robert S. Morrison

Reapproval of the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan.

1g.

James A. Skinner

Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ITW’s independent public accountants for 2008.

Non-Voting Items

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Authorized Signatures - This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. - Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.



Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]	Date	Signature (Joint Owners)	Date

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY (6^TH FLOOR)
50 SOUTH LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603

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		Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Proxy — Illinois Tool Works Inc.

3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE, GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS 60026

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MAY 2, 2008

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The undersigned stockholder of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (“ITW”) hereby appoints Marvin D. Brailsford, Susan Crown and Harold B. Smith, or any of them, with full power of substitution, to act as proxies at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ITW to be held in Chicago, Illinois on May 2, 2008 with authority to vote as directed by this Proxy Card at the meeting, and any adjournments of the meeting, all shares of common stock of ITW registered in the name of the undersigned. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of each director, FOR the reapproval of the performance factors and award limit under the Executive Incentive Plan and FOR the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ITW’s independent public accountants for 2008 and FOR or AGAINST any other properly raised matter at the discretion of the proxies.


		Change of Address:



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	1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:


	2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


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	Page

Questions and Answers		1
Election of Directors		4
Board of Directors and Its Committees		7
Corporate Governance Policies and Practices		9
Director Compensation		11
Ownership of ITW Stock		13
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance		16
Compensation Discussion and Analysis		16
Executive Compensation		25
Equity Compensation Plan Information		36
Compensation Committee Report		36
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions		37
Audit Committee Report		38
Reapproval of the Performance Factors and Award Limit Under the Executive Incentive Plan		40
Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Public Accountants		41
Categorical Standards for Director Independence		A-1


	1) Amount Previously Paid:


	2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:


	3) Filing Party:


	4) Date Filed: