Who was Clint Hill? U.S. Secret Service agent who rushed to shield JFK during assassination dies at 93

Clint Hill, the U.S. Secret Service agent who famously leaped onto President John F. Kennedy’s limousine to shield First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy during the 1963 assassination, has died at the age of 93.

Clint passed away on February 21, 2025, at his home in Belvedere, California, with his wife, journalist Lisa McCubbin Hill, by his side. Per USA Today, his family shared in a statement,

"Hill's heroism on November 22, 1963, during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, made him a worldwide symbol of courage and a revered icon in the U.S. Secret Service."

Clint Hill’s actions on November 22, 1963, were recorded in the Zapruder film. It is one of the most well-known recordings of JFK’s assassination. In the moments after the shots were fired, Hill sprinted toward the president’s moving limousine. He climbed onto the back of the vehicle as it sped away.

His attempt to shield the Kennedys from further harm became one of the most iconic moments in U.S. history. Despite receiving commendations for his bravery, Hill carried guilt for long as he believed he could have saved the president if he had reacted just a second faster.

CBS News reports that In a 1975 interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes that was taken by Mike Wallace, he broke down in tears. He blamed himself for Kennedy’s death, stating,

"If I had reacted about five-tenths of a second faster, maybe a second faster, I would not be here today...That would have been fine with me."

The publication also reports that Clint Hill later sent a letter to Wallace, reflecting on that interview. He wrote,

"My interview with you on '60 Minutes' in 1975 turned into much more of an emotional experience than I thought possible. It did turn out to be a cathartic experience for me and helped me release feelings that had been pent up for a long time."

Who was Clint Hill?

In 1958, Clint Hill joined the U.S. Secret Service. He was initially stationed in Denver. His career took a significant turn when he was assigned to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s security team. He was assigned to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s security team in 1960.

As part of Jackie Kennedy’s security team, Hill accompanied the First Lady on trips across the U.S. and abroad. Despite the high-profile nature of his role, he was reportedly often frustrated by the Kennedys' preference for minimal security.

President Kennedy, in particular, disliked the presence of agents riding on the limousine’s running boards. He believed it interfered with his connection to the public, which eventually led to the tragic consequences on November 22, 1963.

Clint Hill’s response during the unfortunate incident earned him commendations from the Secret Service, and he was later awarded the U.S. Treasury Department’s highest civilian honor for bravery. However, he retired early in 1975 at the age of 43. His doctors diagnosed him with severe depression, a condition later recognized as PTSD.

Clint Hill’s death marks the passing of one of the last living witnesses to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. A private funeral service will be held in Washington, D.C., at a later date.

---

Also Read: Kanye West and Bianca Censori to reportedly rekindle marriage after a brief split