Strauss was born to a Jewish family[3] on April 21, 1909.[1] In 1931, he graduated with a B.A. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.[1] In 1932, he joined The next year he joined the Riggs Optical Company, a subsidiary of Bausch & Lomb, in Chicago as advertising manager.[1]
In 1939, he joined the Grey Advertising Agency (founded by Lawrence Valenstein and Arthur C. Fatt) and as an account executive.[1] Grey differentiated itself from its competitors by using a team approach to advertising that closely worked with its customers and conducted extensive marketing research.[2] and focused on developing a brand through pre-selling and building a market for it.[4] In the 1940s, the firm was billing $1 million per year.[4] In 1947, after winning Gruen watch account, billings reached $10 million.[2] In 1955, after winning the Block Drug account, Grey's billings reached $30 million.[2] In 1956, Valenstein became chairman of the board and Fatt became president.[2] In 1957, the firm developed the widely successful "Leaving now for Trenton, Philadelphia and Cucamonga!" campaign for Greyhound Bus with the tagline "Go Greyhound and leave the driving to us."[2][5] and won the Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble and Chock Full o' Nuts accounts.[5] In 1961, billings reached $59 million[2] and Valenstein became chairman of the executive committee;[4] Fatt was named chairman and Strauss its president.[1][2] As president, Strauss presided over the national and international expansion of the agency. In 1961, the firm opened an office in Los Angeles;[2] and in 1962 the firm opened an office in London and in 1963 in Japan.[2][4] In 1964, billings reached $100 million.[2] In 1965, the firm went public trading on the Nasdaq exchange and the firm also expanded into the use of psychographics (the analysis of consumer lifestyles).[2] In 1966, Grey became one of the top 10 agencies in the U.S.[2] In 1967, Strauss was named CEO and chairman; and Edward H. Meyer, president.[1][2] In 1969, Grey won the Kraft General Foods' Post cereal account and sales reached $230 million.[1] In 1969, Strauss was named chairman[1] and in 1970, Meyer was named CEO.[5] In the 1970s, Grey was responsible for several popular ad campaigns including "Star Wars" toys for Kenner, aspirin and toothpaste for SmithKline, and Stove Top Stuffing for Kraft General Foods.[2] In 1973, Strauss died of a heart attack.[1]
Strauss served as a director of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the National Outdoor Advertising Bureau, and Better Business Bureau of New York.[1]