Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who famously leaped onto John F. Kennedy’s limousine during the 1963 assassination in Dallas, has died at the age of 93.
Hill, who later became a bestselling author, spent much of his life haunted by the events of that tragic day.
His publicist confirmed that he passed away at home in California on Friday, surrounded by his wife, journalist Lisa McCubbin. No official cause of death was provided.
On November 22, 1963, Hill was assigned to protect First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. When gunfire rang out in Dealey Plaza, he rushed toward the presidential limousine, attempting to shield the Kennedys. His swift actions were captured in the now-famous Zapruder film, one of the most well-known recordings of the assassination.
Originally from North Dakota, Hill served in the U.S. Army before joining the Secret Service in 1958. His bravery in Dallas earned him an award, and he eventually became an assistant director of the agency. However, the trauma of witnessing Kennedy’s death took a toll on him. Convinced that he could have saved the president, he struggled with guilt for decades. In a 1975 interview, he expressed deep regret, believing that if he had reacted just a fraction of a second faster, he could have taken the bullet instead.
Despite this, Hill later came to terms with the fact that Kennedy’s death was unavoidable. After retiring from the Secret Service in 1975, he remained out of the public eye for many years. That changed in 2009 when he met McCubbin and began sharing his story. Their collaboration led to several bestselling books, including Mrs. Kennedy and Me. The two eventually fell in love and married in 2021.
Hill’s publisher described him as a man dedicated to both his country and his family, saying he passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side.