Clint Hill, the former Secret Service agent who heroically attempted to shield President John F. Kennedy during the assassination in Dallas, has passed away at the age of 93. Hill died peacefully at his California home, where he had spent his later years reflecting on a legacy defined by extraordinary service and unwavering loyalty to the Kennedy family and four other U.S. presidents.
Hill was a vital part of Jacqueline Kennedy’s protective detail when tragedy struck on November 22, 1963. As the Kennedys traveled through Dealey Plaza, President Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald. Hill, who was just behind the presidential motorcade, leaped onto the back of the vehicle in a desperate attempt to shield the president and First Lady from further harm. The powerful image of Hill climbing onto the limo’s trunk remains a poignant symbol of his courage.
In interviews later in life, Hill admitted that he often struggled with the fact that he didn’t act faster. “If I had reacted just a little bit quicker,” Hill once said in a CBS interview. “I’ll live with that to my grave.” Despite the tragic outcome, Hill’s dedication in the face of danger remains a hallmark of his career.
After the assassination, Hill continued to serve in the Secret Service, protecting Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford. He retired from the service at 43 and turned his attention to writing. His memoir, Five Days in November, deeply explored the emotional weight of that fateful day, while Five Presidents reflected on his decades of experience guarding the leaders of the free world.
Clint Hill’s legacy is one of selflessness and commitment. In his words, “In the blink of an eye, everything changed,” and for Hill, those five days in November would shape his life and career forever.
