CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Activities of Continuing Operations
Net earnings	$ 508,892	$ 869,829	$ 775,235
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from operating activities:
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations, net	0	(273,948)	2,905
Depreciation and amortization	360,739	327,089	307,188
Stock-based compensation	21,015	30,697	31,628
Gain on sale of businesses	(96,598)	0	0
Provision for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries)	10,641	5,946	4,730
Deferred income taxes	(79,414)	(5,916)	(33,866)
Employee benefit plan expense	26,492	34,253	34,627
Contributions to employee benefit plans	(25,691)	(21,942)	(24,232)
Other, net	(34,718)	(2,258)	(21,813)
Cash effect of changes assets and liabilities (excluding effects of acquisitions, dispositions and foreign exchange):
Accounts receivable	(44,649)	37,916	(87,207)
Inventories	25,858	63,129	(63,717)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,589	(7,401)	(18,527)
Accounts payable	58,695	42,925	60,176
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	(12,596)	(71,090)	(17,731)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	45,371	(19,765)	40,955
Accrued taxes	95,349	(60,405)	(40,187)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	861,975	949,059	950,164
Investing Activities of Continuing Operations
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(165,205)	(154,251)	(166,033)
Acquisitions (net of cash and cash equivalents acquired)	(1,561,737)	(567,843)	(802,254)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	17,749	14,604	14,373
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	206,407	689,314	191,348
Settlement of net investment hedge	0	(17,752)	0
Other	(1,057)	1,350	(19,991)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(1,503,843)	(34,578)	(782,557)
Financing Activities of Continuing Operations
Cash received from Knowles Corporation, net of cash distributed	0	0	359,955
Proceeds from long-term debt	656,399	394,300	0
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards, including tax benefits	8,431	4,024	20,337
Change in commercial paper and notes payable, net	254,834	(327,000)	251,500
Repayment of long-term debt	(2,017)	(300,048)	(6,566)
Dividends to stockholders	(268,339)	(257,969)	(258,487)
Purchase of common stock	0	(600,164)	(601,077)
Payments for employee tax obligations upon exercise of share-based awards	(15,700)	(5,029)	(21,151)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations	633,608	(1,091,886)	(255,489)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	(113,946)	25,760
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	0	(1,984)	(19,753)
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations	0	(115,930)	6,007
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,779)	(26,061)	(40,426)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(13,039)	(319,396)	(122,301)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	362,185	681,581	803,882
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	349,146	362,185	681,581
Supplemental information - cash paid during the year for [Abstract]
Income taxes	170,394	346,382	372,446
Interest	$ 131,184	$ 128,151	$ 128,412