Clint Hill, Secret Service Agent Who Saved Jackie Kennedy, Passes Away at 93

Clint Hill, who infamously leapt onto President Kennedy’s limousine during the assassination in 1963 to protect Jackie Kennedy, has passed away at 93. After years grappling with guilt over the tragedy, he found solace in writing and love before his death in California.

 

Clint Hill, a former Secret Service agent of remarkable valor, has died at 93, his passing marking a poignant chapter in American history. Renowned for his dramatic leap onto President John F. Kennedy's limousine during the assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, Hill's actions were immortalized in the Zapruder film, a significant piece of evidence from that day.

Assigned to protect Jacqueline Kennedy, Hill was riding in a car behind when shots rang out. His instinct to protect the president and his wife led him to act swiftly, climbing onto the rear of the limousine amid chaos. Although he saved Jackie from potential harm, Hill was haunted by the belief that he could have intervened sooner and possibly saved the president's life, revealing his deep-seated guilt in interviews later on.

Born in North Dakota, Hill served in the Army before joining the Secret Service in 1958. He was recognized for his bravery with an award for his actions in Dallas and eventually rose to the position of assistant director within the agency. However, the trauma stemming from the assassination drove him to retire early at the age of 43 in 1975.

In the years that followed, Hill often revisited Dallas, reconciling his feeling of guilt with the understanding that the tragic events were beyond his control. In 2009, he met journalist Lisa McCubbin, and they collaborated on a bestselling memoir entitled "Mrs. Kennedy and Me," which chronicled his experiences. Their partnership blossomed into love, culminating in marriage in 2021.

Hill passed away peacefully in his home in California, with McCubbin by his side. His publicist confirmed the news, although the cause of death has not been disclosed. Through his unique perspective on one of America's darkest days, Hill leaves behind a legacy marked by valor, insight, and ultimately, redemption.