Neutron total and scattering cross sections of 238U have been interpreted in terms of a local, energy-dependent spherical optical potential with spin orbit coupling. Total cross sections to 10.0 MeV and scattering cross sections to 1.5 MeV, at 2.0 MeV and at 7.0 MeV were calculated and compared with reported experimental results and with values measured explicitly for support of these calculations. The statistical model was used in calculating elastic and inelastic scattering processes, and capture and fission reactions were taken into account. The effects of resonance width fluctuations and correlations and of deformation were examined. Satisfactory agreement was achieved between calculation and experiment.