<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND RETAINED
EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        12,238,159
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,698,078
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,864,472
<EQUITIES>                                   1,501,093
<MORTGAGE>                                     460,301
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  614,595
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              17,681,814
<CASH>                                          80,497
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             129,884
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         411,590
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,051,021
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,978,170
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            981,715
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 150,634
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                       10,402,817
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                              1,341,178
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       227,921
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,142,712
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                21,051,021
<PREMIUMS>                                   1,311,340
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            583,697
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              40,761
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 110,508
<BENEFITS>                                   1,210,268
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    223,093
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                300,121
<INCOME-TAX>                                    71,384
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            228,737
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   228,737
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0