Clint Hill's remarkable life journey included his heroic actions during President Kennedy's assassination, deep-seated guilt, and a successful writing career, culminating in his passing while surrounded by loved ones.
Clint Hill, Iconic Secret Service Agent, Passes Away at 93
Clint Hill, Iconic Secret Service Agent, Passes Away at 93
Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent known for his heroic act during JFK's assassination, has died at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of courage and remorse.
Clint Hill, the renowned U.S. Secret Service agent remembered for his dramatic intervention during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, has passed away at the age of 93. Hill died at his home in California, as confirmed by a statement from his publicist. His life was marked by a blend of bravery and haunting reflection on one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
On November 22, 1963, Hill was tasked with the protection of Jacqueline Kennedy. He was stationed in a follow-up vehicle to the presidential limousine when gunfire erupted in Dallas. Immediately responding, Hill vaulted onto the back of the car, an action immortalized in the infamous Zapruder film, which captured the harrowing events of that day.
Born in North Dakota and a veteran of the Army, Hill joined the Secret Service in 1958. For his actions during the assassination, he received commendations and ascended to the role of assistant director of the agency. Yet, despite accolades, the psychological toll of that day weighed heavily upon him, leading to his early retirement in 1975 at the age of 43.
In interviews, Hill expressed profound guilt over the incident, feeling an overwhelming sense of responsibility for failing to protect the president. "If I had reacted about five-tenths of a second faster…maybe a second faster, I wouldn’t be here today," Hill lamented in a CBS interview. Over time, he reflected and reconciled with this burden, concluding that he could not have changed the tragic outcome.
In later years, Hill collaborated with journalist Lisa McCubbin on a bestselling memoir titled "Mrs. Kennedy and Me," which detailed his experiences alongside Jacqueline Kennedy. Their professional relationship blossomed into a personal one, culminating in their marriage in 2021.
Hill's passing marks the end of a significant chapter in the narrative of American history. A cause of death has yet to be disclosed, but his legacy as a protector and a man grappling with the weight of his past will remain a poignant reminder of the complexities of duty and humanity.
