CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Activities of Continuing Operations
Net earnings	$ 811,665	$ 508,892	$ 869,829
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash from operating activities:
Earnings from discontinued operations, net	0	0	(273,948)
Depreciation and amortization	394,240	360,739	327,089
Stock-based compensation	26,528	21,015	30,697
Gain on sale of businesses	(203,138)	(96,598)	0
Provision for losses on accounts receivable (net of recoveries)	11,295	10,641	5,946
Deferred income taxes	(170,859)	(79,414)	(5,916)
Employee benefit plan expense	13,238	26,492	34,253
Contributions to employee benefit plans	(20,464)	(25,691)	(21,942)
Other, net	(52,108)	(34,718)	(2,258)
Cash effect of changes assets and liabilities (excluding effects of acquisitions, dispositions and foreign exchange):
Accounts receivable	(104,706)	(44,649)	37,916
Inventories	(12,557)	25,858	63,129
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(11,136)	2,589	(7,401)
Accounts payable	124,051	58,695	42,925
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	29,059	(12,596)	(71,090)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(34,234)	45,371	(19,765)
Accrued taxes	20,685	95,349	(60,405)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	821,559	861,975	949,059
Investing Activities of Continuing Operations
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(196,735)	(165,205)	(154,251)
Acquisitions (net of cash and cash equivalents acquired)	(36,031)	(1,561,737)	(567,843)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	15,322	17,749	14,604
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	372,666	206,407	689,314
Settlement of net investment hedge	0	0	(17,752)
Other	21,151	(1,057)	1,350
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	176,373	(1,503,843)	(34,578)
Financing Activities of Continuing Operations
Proceeds from long-term debt	0	656,399	394,300
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards, including tax benefits	0	8,431	4,024
Change in commercial paper and notes payable, net	(183,194)	254,834	(327,000)
Repayment of long-term debt	0	(2,017)	(300,048)
Dividends to stockholders	(283,959)	(268,339)	(257,969)
Purchase of common stock	(105,023)	0	(600,164)
Payments for employee tax obligations upon exercise of share-based awards	(18,443)	(15,700)	(5,029)
Other	(4,120)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations	(594,739)	633,608	(1,091,886)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	(113,946)
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	0	0	(1,984)
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations	0	0	(115,930)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,625	(4,779)	(26,061)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	404,818	(13,039)	(319,396)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	349,146	362,185	681,581
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	753,964	349,146	362,185
Supplemental information - cash paid during the year for [Abstract]
Income taxes	337,987	170,394	346,382
Interest	$ 140,863	$ 131,184	$ 128,151