<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000731939</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEMPLE INLAND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231549</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MALEY JOHN PATRICK III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Group VP, Paperboard</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">No securities owned.
Code 24 - Power of Attorney (attached at bottom of Form 3)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Signed by Leslie K. O'Neal on behalf of John Patrick Maley III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

