Earl Edward Tailer Smith (July 8, 1903 – February 15, 1991) was an American financier and diplomat, who served as ambassador to Cuba from 1957 to 1959 and as mayor of Palm Beach from 1971 to 1977.

He was a son of Frances Bogert "Fannie" Tailer (1884–1953),[1] and Sydney Johnston Smith (1868–1949), a cotton broker and sportsman.

Smith served overseas and by the end of the war, attained the rank of Lieutenant colonel.

[12] In June 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Smith ambassador to Cuba, replacing Arthur Gardner.

[12] On arrival, Smith was urged by his staff to leave Havana to get a better feel of the country, which was in a state of some turmoil.

On a visit to Santiago de Cuba, Smith witnessed firsthand the funeral and burial of Frank Pais, one of the leaders of the M-26-7 movement.

Smith was also critical of what he perceived as Washington's ambivalent attitude towards the growing 26th of July movement led by Fidel Castro.

[13] Smith resigned his post on January 20, 1959 and was replaced by Philip Bonsal, three weeks after the Cuban Revolution led by Castro.

And we must be prepared to receive the criticism of supporting friendly governments recognized by the United States, although they have been labeled dictatorships.

[11] In the 1980s, he was named to the Presidential Commission on Broadcasting to Cuba by President Ronald Reagan alongside George W.