BELVEDERE, Calif. — Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who became a symbol of courage on the fateful day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, has passed away. He was 93 years old. Hill’s death on Friday at his Belvedere, California, home was confirmed by his publisher, Gallery Books, part of Simon & Schuster. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Though his name might not be widely known, Hill’s actions were immortalized in Abraham Zapruder’s haunting home video, capturing the chaos of President Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, in Dallas. Hill acted heroically, jumping onto the presidential limousine after shots were fired, but lived with the burden of believing he could have acted faster. Despite receiving high praise and promotions within the Service, the event left a lasting mark on him.
“If I had reacted just a little bit quicker,” Hill emotionally told Mike Wallace during a 1975 interview for CBS’ 60 Minutes, conducted shortly after his retirement at 43, due to his ongoing struggles with the memories of that day. It took him many years to come to terms with the past and find peace.
On that tragic day, Hill was responsible for protecting First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, positioned on the follow-up car’s left running board behind the limousine. The Warren Commission recorded Hill’s testimony of hearing gunfire and witnessing Kennedy slump forward. However, Kennedy was fatally wounded before Hill could reach him.
Zapruder’s film shows Hill’s brave sprint from the Secret Service car to the presidential limousine, leaping onto the trunk and pulling himself aboard as it accelerated away. He instinctively guided Mrs. Kennedy back into her seat as the car raced to safety.
Hill rose through the ranks of the Secret Service, eventually leading the White House protective detail before becoming an assistant director. Unfortunately, the continuous strain and depression from his experiences led to his early retirement.
The 1993 thriller “In the Line of Fire,” featuring Clint Eastwood, drew inspiration from Hill’s life, portraying a former agent haunted by Kennedy’s assassination. Hill’s life began in Washburn, North Dakota, in 1932. He later attended Concordia College in Minnesota, served in the Army, and worked for a railroad before joining the Secret Service in 1958. His career progressed from the Denver office to protecting the President and his family as part of an elite group.
Despite his initial reluctance, Hill occasionally spoke about the assassination post-retirement. His 1975 conversation with Wallace, filled with emotional revelations, remains especially significant. During this interview, Hill reflected on the swift timing that might have altered history. Wallace recalled this exchange as one of the most poignant of his career, helping Hill begin to heal.
Years later, Hill co-authored several books with Lisa McCubbin Hill, such as “Mrs. Kennedy and Me” and “Five Presidents,” sharing his Secret Service experiences. He and McCubbin Hill, who married him in 2021, were described as soulmates, sharing a deep, personal connection.
Hill continued to engage with the public, speaking about his past and insights from his time with the Secret Service. In 2018, he was honored with North Dakota’s prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. His portrait now proudly hangs with other esteemed honorees in the state Capitol gallery.
Plans for a private funeral service in Washington, D.C., will be announced later, paying respects to a figure who courageously served the nation and carried the weight of history.
