Exhibit 5(a)
 
                             Management Agreement
                                    Between
                          Nuveen Investment Trust II
                                      and
                      Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp.
     Nuveen Investment Trust II, a Massachusetts business trust registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") as an open-end diversified
management series investment company ("Trust"), hereby appoints Nuveen
Institutional Advisory Corp., a Delaware corporation registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as an investment adviser, of Chicago, Illinois
("Manager"), to furnish investment advisory and management services and certain
administrative services with respect to the portion of its assets represented by
the shares of beneficial interest issued in the series listed in Schedule A
hereto, as such schedule may be amended from time to time (each such series
hereinafter referred to as "Fund"). Trust and Manager hereby agree that:
          1. Investment Management Services. Manager shall manage the investment
     operations of Trust and each Fund, subject to the terms of this Agreement
     and to the supervision and control of Trust's Board of Trustees
     ("Trustees"). Manager agrees to perform, or arrange for the performance of,
     the following services with respect to each Fund:
               (a) to obtain and evaluate such information relating to
          economies, industries, businesses, securities and commodities markets,
          and individual securities, commodities and indices as it may deem
          necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities hereunder;
               (b) to formulate and maintain a continuous investment program in
          a manner consistent with and subject to (i) Trust's agreement and
          declaration of trust and by-laws; (ii) the Fund's investment
          objectives, policies, and restrictions as set forth in written
          documents furnished by the Trust to Manager; (iii) all securities,
          commodities, and tax laws and regulations applicable to the Fund and
          Trust; and (iv) any other written limits or directions furnished by
          the Trustees to Manager;
 
               (c) unless otherwise directed by the Trustees, to determine from
          time to time securities, commodities, interests or other investments
          to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and to implement
          those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through
          which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected;
               (d) to use reasonable efforts to manage the Fund so that it will
          qualify as a regulated investment company under subchapter M of the
          Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
               (e) to make recommendations as to the manner in which voting
          rights, rights to consent to Trust or Fund action, and any other
          rights pertaining to Trust or the Fund shall be exercised;
               (f) to make available to Trust promptly upon request all of the
          Fund's records and ledgers and any reports or information reasonably
          requested by the Trust; and
               (g) to the extent required by law, to furnish to regulatory
          authorities any information or reports relating to the services
          provided pursuant to this Agreement.
          Except as otherwise instructed from time to time by the Trustees, with
     respect to execution of transactions for Trust on behalf of a Fund, Manager
     shall place, or arrange for the placement of, all orders for purchases,
     sales, or loans with issuers, brokers, dealers or other counterparts or
     agents selected by Manager. In connection with the selection of all such
     parties for the placement of all such orders, Manager shall attempt to
     obtain most favorable execution and price, but may nevertheless in its sole
     discretion as a secondary factor, purchase and sell portfolio securities
     from and to brokers and dealers who provide Manager with statistical,
     research and other information, analysis, advice, and similar services. In
     recognition of such services or brokerage services provided by a broker or
     dealer, Manager is hereby authorized to pay such broker or dealer a
     commission or spread in excess of that which might be charged by another
     broker or dealer for the same transaction if the Manager determines in good
     faith that the commission or spread is reasonable in relation to the value
     of the services so provided.
          Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with Manager
     that is a member of a national securities exchange to effect any
     transaction on the exchange for the account of a Fund to the extent
     permitted by and in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities
     Exchange Act or 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder. Trust hereby
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     consents to the retention by such entity or person of compensation for such
     transactions in accordance with Rule 11a-2-2(T)(a)(iv).
          Manager may, where it deems to be advisable, aggregate orders for its
     other customers together with any securities of the same type to be sold or
     purchased for Trust or one or more Funds in order to obtain best execution
     or lower brokerage commissions. In such event, Manager shall allocate the
     shares so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the
     transaction, in a manner it considers to be equitable and fair and
     consistent with its fiduciary obligations to Trust, the Funds, and
     Manager's other customers.
          Manager shall for all purposes be deemed to be an independent
     contractor and not an agent of Trust and shall, unless otherwise expressly
     provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent Trust in
     any way.
            2. Administrative Services. Subject to the terms of this Agreement
     and to the supervision and control of the Trustees, Manager shall provide
     to the Trust facilities, equipment, statistical and research data,
     clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, internal auditing and legal
     services, and personnel to carry out all management services required for
     operation of the business and affairs of the Funds other than those
     services to be performed by the Trust's Distributor pursuant to the
     Distribution Agreement, those services to be performed by the Trust's
     Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement, those services to be performed
     by the Trust's Transfer Agent pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement,
     those services to be provided by the Trust's Custodian pursuant to the
     Accounting Agreement and those services normally performed by the Trust's
     counsel and auditors.
          3. Use of Affiliated Companies and Subcontractors. In connection with
     the services to be provided by Manager under this Agreement, Manager may,
     to the extent it deems appropriate, and subject to compliance with the
     requirements of applicable laws and regulations, make use of (i) its
     affiliated companies and their directors, trustees, officers, and employees
     and (ii) subcontractors selected by Manager, provided that Manager shall
     supervise and remain fully responsible for the services of all such third
     parties in accordance with and to the extent provided by this Agreement.
     All costs and expenses associated with services provided by any such third
     parties shall be borne by Manager or such parties.
          4. Expenses Borne by Trust. Except to the extent expressly assumed by
     Manager herein or under a separate agreement between Trust and Manager and
     except to the extent required by law to be paid by Manager, Manager shall
     not be obligated to pay
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     any costs or expenses incidental to the organization, operations or
     business of the Trust. Without limitation, such costs and expenses shall
     include but not be limited to:
               (a) all charges of depositories, custodians and other agencies
          for the safekeeping and servicing of its cash, securities, and other
          property;
               (b) all charges for equipment or services used for obtaining
          price quotations or for communication between Manager or Trust and the
          custodian, transfer agent or any other agent selected by Trust;
               (c) all charges for and accounting services provided to Trust by
          Manager, or any other provider of such services;
               (d) all charges for services of Trust's independent auditors and
          for services to Trust by legal counsel;
               (e) all compensation of Trustees, other than those affiliated
          with Manager, all expenses incurred in connection with their services
          to Trust, and all expenses of meetings of the Trustees or committees
          thereof;
               (f) all expenses incidental to holding meetings of holders of
          units of interest in the Trust ("Shareholders"), including printing
          and of supplying each record-date Shareholder with notice and proxy
          solicitation material, and all other proxy solicitation expense;
               (g) all expenses of printing of annual or more frequent revisions
          of Trust prospectus(es) and of supplying each then-existing
          Shareholder with a copy of a revised prospectus;
               (h) all expenses related to preparing and transmitting
          certificates representing Trust shares;
               (i) all expenses of bond and insurance coverage required by law
          or deemed advisable by the Board of Trustees;
               (j) all brokers' commissions and other normal charges incident to
          the purchase, sale, or lending of portfolio securities;
                                      -4-
 
               (k) all taxes and governmental fees payable to Federal, state or
          other governmental agencies, domestic or foreign, including all stamp
          or other transfer taxes;
               (l) all expenses of registering and maintaining the registration
          of Trust under the 1940 Act and, to the extent no exemption is
          available, expenses of registering Trust's shares under the 1933 Act,
          of qualifying and maintaining qualification of Trust and of Trust's
          shares for sale under securities laws of various states or other
          jurisdictions and of registration and qualification of Trust under all
          other laws applicable to Trust or its business activities;
               (m) all interest on indebtedness, if any, incurred by Trust or a
          Fund; and
               (n) all fees, dues and other expenses incurred by Trust in
          connection with membership of Trust in any trade association or other
          investment company organization.
          5. Allocation of Expenses Borne by Trust. Any expenses borne by Trust
     that are attributable solely to the organization, operation or business of
     a Fund shall be paid solely out of Fund assets. Any expense borne by Trust
     which is not solely attributable to a Fund, nor solely to any other series
     of shares of Trust, shall be apportioned in such manner as Manager
     determines is fair and appropriate, or as otherwise specified by the Board
     of Trustees.
          6. Expenses Borne by Manager. Manager at its own expense shall furnish
     all executive and other personnel, office space, and office facilities
     required to render the investment management and administrative services
     set forth in this Agreement.
          In the event that Manager pays or assumes any expenses of Trust or a
     Fund not required to be paid or assumed by Manager under this Agreement,
     Manager shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or similar
     expense in the future; provided that nothing contained herein shall be
     deemed to relieve Manager of any obligation to Trust or a Fund under any
     separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.
          7. Management Fee. For the services rendered, facilities provided, and
     charges assumed and paid by Manager hereunder, Trust shall pay to Manager
     out of the assets of each Fund fees at the annual rate for such Fund as set
     forth in Schedule B to this Agreement. For each Fund, the management fee
     shall accrue on each calendar day, and shall be payable monthly on the
     first business day of the next succeeding calendar month.
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     The daily fee accrual shall be computed by multiplying the fraction of one
     divided by the number of days in the calendar year by the applicable annual
     rate of fee, and multiplying this product by the net assets of the Fund,
     determined in the manner established by the Board of Trustees, as of the
     close of business on the last preceding business day on which the Fund's
     net asset value was determined.
          8. State Expense Limitation. If for any fiscal year of a Fund, its
     aggregate operating expenses ("Aggregate Operating Expenses") exceed the
     applicable percentage expense limit imposed under the securities law and
     regulations of any state in which Shares of the Fund are qualified for sale
     (the "State Expense Limit"), the Manager shall pay such Fund the amount of
     such excess. For purposes of this State Expense Limit, Aggregate Operating
     Expenses shall (a) include (i) any fees or expenses reimbursements payable
     to Manager pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) to the extent the Fund
     invests all or a portion of its assets in another investment company
     registered under the 1940 Act, the pro rata portion of that company's
     operating expenses allocated to the Fund, and (iii) any compensation
     payable to Manager pursuant to any separate agreement relating to the
     Fund's administration, but (b) exclude any interest, taxes, brokerage
     commissions, and other normal charges incident to the purchase, sale or
     loan of securities, commodity interests or other investments held by the
     Fund, litigation and indemnification expense, and other extraordinary
     expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business. Except as
     otherwise agreed to by the parties or unless otherwise required by the law
     or regulation of any state, any reimbursement by Manager to a Fund under
     this section shall not exceed the management fee payable to Manager by the
     Fund under this Agreement.
          Any payment to a Fund by Manager hereunder shall be made monthly, by
     annualizing the Aggregate Operating Expenses for each month as of the last
     day of the month. An adjustment for payments made during any fiscal year of
     the Fund shall be made on or before the last day of the first month
     following such fiscal year of the Fund if the Annual Operating Expenses for
     such fiscal year (i) do not exceed the State Expense Limitation or (ii) for
     such fiscal year there is no applicable State Expense Limit.
          9. Retention of Sub-Adviser. Subject to obtaining the initial and
     periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the 1940 Act, Manager may
     retain one or more sub-advisers at Manager's own cost and expense for the
     purpose of furnishing one or more of the services described in Section 1
     hereof with respect to Trust or one or more Funds. Retention of a sub-
     adviser shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of
     Manager under this Agreement, and Manager shall be responsible to Trust and
     its Funds for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with
     the performance or Manager's duties hereunder.
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          10. Non-Exclusivity. The services of Manager to Trust hereunder are
     not to be deemed exclusive and Manager shall be free to render similar
     services to others.
          11. Standard of Care. The Manager shall not be liable for any loss
     sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security,
     whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon
     the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or
     corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care
     and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
     faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Manager in the performance of
     its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its
     obligations and duties under this Agreement.
          12. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended as to Trust or any
     Fund without the affirmative votes (a) of a majority of the Board of
     Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not "interested
     persons" of Trust or of Manager, voting in person at a meeting called for
     the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) of a "majority of the
     outstanding shares" of Trust or, with respect to any amendment affecting an
     individual Fund, a "majority of the outstanding shares" of that Fund. The
     terms "interested persons" and "vote of a majority of the outstanding
     shares" shall be construed in accordance with their respective definitions
     in the 1940 Act and, with respect to the latter term, in accordance with
     Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act.
          13. Effective Date and Termination. This Agreement shall become
     effective as to any Fund as of the effective date for that Fund specified
     in Schedule A hereto. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without
     payment of any penalty, as to any Fund by the Board of Trustees of Trust,
     or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of that fund, upon at
     least sixty (60) days' written notice to Manager. This Agreement may be
     terminated by Manager at any time upon at least sixty (60) days' written
     notice to Trust. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event
     of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act). Unless terminated as
     hereinbefore provided, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect
     to any Fund until the end of the initial term applicable to that Fund
     specified in Schedule A and thereafter from year to year only so long as
     such continuance is specifically approved with respect to that Fund at
     least annually (a) by a majority of those Trustees who are not interested
     persons of Trust or of Manager, voting in person at a meeting called for
     the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by either the Board of
     Trustees of Trust or by a "vote of a majority of the outstanding shares" of
     the Fund.
          14. Ownership of Records; Interparty Reporting. All records required
     to be maintained and preserved by Trust pursuant to the provisions of rules
     or regulations of
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     the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act
     or other applicable laws or regulations which are maintained and preserved
     by Manager on behalf of Trust and any other records the parties mutually
     agree shall be maintained by Manager on behalf of Trust are the property of
     Trust and shall be surrendered by Manager promptly on request by Trust;
     provided that Manager may at its own expense make and retain copies of any
     such records.
          Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to Manager such copies
     of the financial statements, proxy statements, reports, and other
     information relating to the business and affairs of each Shareholder in a
     Fund as Manager may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require
     in order to discharge its obligations under this Agreement.
          Manager shall prepare and furnish to Trust as to each Fund statistical
     data and other information in such form and at such intervals as Trust may
     reasonably request.
          15. Non-Liability of Trustees and Shareholders. Any obligation of
     Trust hereunder shall be binding only upon the assets of Trust (or the
     applicable Fund thereof) and shall not be binding upon any Trustee,
     officer, employee, agent or Shareholder of Trust. Neither the authorization
     of any action by the Trustees or Shareholders of Trust nor the execution of
     this Agreement on behalf of Trust shall impose any liability upon any
     Trustee or any Shareholder.
          16. Use of Manager's Name. Trust may use the name "Nuveen Investment
     Trust II" and the Fund names listed in Schedule A or any other name derived
     from the name "Nuveen" only for so long as this Agreement or any extension,
     renewal, or amendment hereof remains in effect, including any similar
     agreement with any organization which shall have succeeded to the business
     of Manager as investment adviser. At such time as this Agreement or any
     extension, renewal or amendment hereof, or such other similar agreement
     shall no longer be in effect, Trust will cease to use any name derived from
     the name "Nuveen" or otherwise connected with Manager, or with any
     organization which shall have succeeded to Manager's business as investment
     adviser.
          17. References and Headings. In this Agreement and in any such
     amendment, references to this Agreement and all expressions such as
     "herein," "hereof," and "hereunder'" shall be deemed to refer to this
     Agreement as amended or affected by any such amendments. Headings are
     placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a
     part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction, or effect
                                      -8-
 
     of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
     counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
Dated: October 31, 1997
                                       Nuveen Investment Trust II
Attest                                 By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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                                          ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ 
                                       Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp.
Attest                                 By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
                                          --------------------------------
                                          ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇  
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
 
                                      -9-
 
                          Nuveen Investment Trust II
                             Management Agreement
                                  Schedule A
     The Funds of the Trust currently subject to this Agreement and the
effective date of each are as follows:
             Fund                           Effective Date
Nuveen ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Growth Fund                   November   , 1997