 In 1927, Strawn was elected president of the American Bar Association.During his time as president, he pushed for higher standards in legal education, including college study before admission to law school and a full three years of legal training before being eligible for admission to the bar.As president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, in 1931, Strawn spoke out in favor of President Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression, arguing that it was up to business, not government, to solve the world's economic problems.