CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities of Continuing Operations
Net earnings	$ 869,829	$ 775,235	$ 1,003,129
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from operating activities:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	(273,948)	2,905	(205,602)
Depreciation and amortization	327,089	307,188	278,033
Stock-based compensation	30,697	31,628	30,480
Provision for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries)	5,946	4,730	5,869
Deferred income taxes	(5,916)	(33,866)	8,275
Employee benefit plan expense	34,253	34,627	44,311
Contributions to employee benefit plans	(21,942)	(24,232)	(40,258)
Other, net	(2,258)	(21,813)	3,904
Cash effect of changes in current assets and liabilities (excluding effects of acquisitions, dispositions and foreign exchange):
Accounts receivable	37,916	(87,207)	(87,806)
Inventories	63,129	(63,717)	1,684
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(7,401)	(18,527)	(8,452)
Accounts payable	42,925	60,176	38,808
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	(71,090)	(17,731)	(17,817)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(19,765)	40,955	(7,353)
Accrued taxes	(60,405)	(40,187)	(67,593)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	949,059	950,164	979,612
Investing Activities of Continuing Operations
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(154,251)	(166,033)	(141,694)
Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)	(567,843)	(802,254)	(322,838)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	14,604	14,373	23,801
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	689,314	191,348	76,457
Payments for (Proceeds from) Hedge, Investing Activities	(17,752)	0	0
Other	1,350	(19,991)	2,597
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(34,578)	(782,557)	(361,677)
Financing Activities of Continuing Operations
Cash received from Knowles Corporation, net of cash distributed	0	359,955	0
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs	394,300	0	403,776
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards, including tax benefits	4,024	20,337	38,922
Change in notes payable, net	(327,000)	251,500	(381,000)
Reduction of long-term debt	(300,048)	(6,566)	(3,246)
Dividends to stockholders	(257,969)	(258,487)	(247,820)
Purchase of common stock	(600,164)	(601,077)	(457,871)
Payments for employee tax obligations upon exercise of share-based awards	(5,029)	(21,151)	(31,303)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations	(1,091,886)	(255,489)	(678,542)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	(113,946)	25,760	172,955
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	(1,984)	(19,753)	(107,191)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations	(115,930)	6,007	65,764
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(26,061)	(40,426)	(1,351)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(319,396)	(122,301)	3,806
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	681,581	803,882	800,076
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	362,185	681,581	803,882
Supplemental information - cash paid during the year for [Abstract]
Income taxes	346,382	372,446	318,402
Interest	$ 128,151	$ 128,412	$ 123,881