A US Secret Service agent who famously jumped onto John F Kennedy’s car as it came under fire in Dallas has passed away at the age of 93. Clint Hill later went on to become a successful author, despite being haunted by guilt over not being able to save Kennedy’s life. Hill passed away at his home in California on Friday, as confirmed by his publicist.
On November 22, 1963, Hill was tasked with protecting President Kennedy’s wife, Jacqueline. When shots were fired, Hill immediately ran towards the couple and attempted to climb into the limousine while the shooting continued. His actions during the assassination were captured on the Zapruder film, which is one of the most widely viewed recordings of the shooting. Before joining the Secret Service in 1958, Hill served in the Army and went on to become the assistant director of the agency. The traumatic experience he had during the assassination led him to retire early at the age of 43. Hill confessed in an interview with CBS 60 Minutes that he felt responsible for not being able to reach Kennedy quickly enough, believing that a faster reaction time would have made a difference.
As time went on, Hill eventually realized that he could not have saved Kennedy’s life. He collaborated with journalist Lisa McCubbin on a best-selling memoir, “Mrs Kennedy and Me,” in 2009. Their collaboration turned into a romantic relationship, and the couple married in 2021. Hill died at his home with his wife by his side, but the cause of his death was not disclosed.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2rnv1zj4go
