CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Operating Activities of Continuing Operations
Net earnings	$ 677,918,000	$ 570,267,000	$ 811,665,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from operating activities:
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net	0	20,878,000	(65,002,000)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	46,946,000	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	23,543,000	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	272,287,000	282,580,000	283,278,000
Stock-based compensation	29,702,000	23,698,000	24,073,000
Gain on sale of business	0	0	(203,135,000)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries)	5,933,000	3,875,000	10,341,000
Deferred income taxes	(11,966,000)	(35,448,000)	(160,395,000)
Employee benefit plan expense	5,844,000	11,912,000	12,191,000
Contributions to employee benefit plans	(21,436,000)	(25,933,000)	(18,588,000)
Other, net	(3,652,000)	(6,762,000)	(4,216,000)
Cash effect of changes assets and liabilities (excluding effects of acquisitions, dispositions and foreign exchange):
Accounts receivable	(7,903,000)	(87,573,000)	(43,450,000)
Inventories	(56,870,000)	(85,052,000)	605,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(25,797,000)	(7,453,000)	(5,232,000)
Accounts payable	18,270,000	106,561,000	94,052,000
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	15,580,000	(7,037,000)	23,319,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(12,656,000)	(5,026,000)	(36,024,000)
Accrued taxes	(10,437,000)	29,706,000	15,927,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	945,306,000	789,193,000	739,409,000
Investing Activities of Continuing Operations
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(186,804,000)	(170,994,000)	(170,068,000)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	216,398,000	68,557,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses	215,687,000	68,557,000	27,188,000
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	4,168,000	5,908,000	11,774,000
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	24,218,000	3,937,000	372,666,000
Other	(10,150,000)	(15,774,000)	21,151,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	(384,255,000)	(245,480,000)	208,335,000
Financing Activities of Continuing Operations
Cash received from Apergy, net of cash distributed	0	689,643,000	0
Proceeds from long-term debt	847,469,000	0	0
Change in commercial paper and notes payable, net	(135,650,000)	(10,722,000)	(182,596,000)
Repayment of long-term debt	(805,112,000)	(350,000,000)	0
Dividends to stockholders	(282,197,000)	(283,570,000)	(283,959,000)
Purchase of common stock	(143,280,000)	(894,977,000)	(105,023,000)
Payments for employee tax obligations upon exercise of share-based awards	(37,370,000)	(46,254,000)	(18,443,000)
Other	(1,902,000)	(1,958,000)	2,912,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations	(558,042,000)	(897,838,000)	(592,933,000)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	9,442,000	96,225,000
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	0	(23,705,000)	(46,484,000)
Net cash used in financing activities of discontinued operations	0	0	(1,208,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations	0	(14,263,000)	48,533,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,977,000)	10,645,000	1,474,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	1,032,000	(357,743,000)	404,818,000
Cash and cash equivalents	397,253,000	396,221,000	753,964,000
Supplemental information - cash paid during the year for [Abstract]
Income taxes	191,084,000	135,427,000	337,987,000
Interest	$ 126,753,000	$ 131,823,000	$ 140,863,000