A deformed optical potential, obtained by matching partial cross sections and the s-wave strength function, is used to calculate p-wave strength functions for 238U and 232Th. We find for 232Th: S1,1/2 = 1.9 × 10-4; S1,3/2= 1.8 × 10-4. For 238U, we find: S1,1/2 = 2.0 × 10-4; S1,3/2 = 1.9 × 10-4. These results are consistent with thermal potential scattering cross sections of ∼10.5 b for both nuclides.