CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Common Stock in Treasury [Member]
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 4,930,555	$ 250,592	$ 663,289	$ 6,629,116	$ (47,510)	$ (2,564,932)
Net earnings	811,070	0	0	811,070	0	0
Dividends paid	(240,959)	0	0	(240,959)	0	0
Common stock issued for acquisition	100,610	1,636	98,974	0	0	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of stock options and SARs	19,081	1,871	17,210	0	0	0
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	22,771	0	22,771	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	31,251	0	31,251	0	0	0
Common stock issued, net of cancellations	1,202	20	1,182	0	0	0
Common stock acquired	(748,955)	0	0	0	0	(748,955)
Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax	(7,396)	0	0	0	(7,396)	0
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2012	4,919,230	254,119	834,677	7,199,227	(54,906)	(3,313,887)
Net earnings	1,003,129	0	0	1,003,129	0	0
Dividends paid	(247,820)	0	0	(247,820)	0	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of stock options and SARs	(18,694)	1,194	(19,888)	0	0	0
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	25,661	0	25,661	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	30,480	0	30,480	0	0	0
Common stock issued, net of cancellations	652	7	645	0	0	0
Common stock acquired	(457,871)	0	0	0	0	(457,871)
Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax	122,629	0	0	0	122,629	0
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2013	5,377,396	255,320	871,575	7,954,536	67,723	(3,771,758)
Net earnings	775,235	0	0	775,235	0	0
Dividends paid	(258,487)	0	0	(258,487)	0	0
Separation of Knowles	(1,423,197)	0	0	(1,396,502)	(26,695)	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of stock options and SARs	(16,571)	565	(17,136)	0	0	0
Tax benefit from the exercise of stock options	15,110	0	15,110	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	31,628	0	31,628	0	0	0
Common stock issued, net of cancellations	647	8	639	0	0	0
Common stock acquired	(601,077)	0	(983)	0	0	(600,094)
Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax	(199,959)	0	0	0	(199,959)	0
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,700,725	$ 255,893	$ 900,833	$ 7,074,782	$ (158,931)	$ (4,371,852)