Clint Hill

Here is a detailed profile of Clint Hill (born January 4, 1932 – died February 21, 2025), an American public servant best known for his role as a U.S. Secret Service agent:

Introduction

Clinton J. “Clint” Hill was a U.S. Secret Service agent who served under five presidents—from Dwight D. Eisenhower through Gerald Ford. assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, when he leaped onto the back of the presidential limousine to protect President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Early Life & Background

• Birth and Adoption
  Hill was born on January 4, 1932, in Larimore, North Dakota. Chris and Jennie Hill of Fargo (later living in Washburn, North Dakota).

• Education
  Hill graduated from Washburn High School, then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

• Military Service & Early Career
  After college, Hill was drafted into the U.S. Army. He trained in counterintelligence and served with the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps in Denver before entering the Secret Service.

Secret Service Career

• Joining the Secret Service
  In 1958, Hill began his career with the U.S. Secret Service, first assigned to the Denver field office.

• Protecting Presidents & First Ladies
  Hill served on the protective detail for Jacqueline Kennedy and remained in that role through the Kennedy administration, including during the fateful October 1963 trip to Dallas. After Kennedy’s death, Hill continued in protective roles for subsequent presidents:

  • He later became Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of presidential protection under President Lyndon B. Johnson.

  • Under Richard Nixon, he shifted to protect the Vice President (Spiro Agnew) and later held headquarters roles.

  • Eventually, he advanced to Assistant Director of the Secret Service, overseeing protection operations.

• Retirement
  Hill retired from the Secret Service in 1975.

The Kennedy Assassination & Heroic Action

Clint Hill’s name is forever linked to the tragic events of November 22, 1963, because of his courageous response:

• On that day, Hill was riding on the running board of the Secret Service follow-up car, directly behind the presidential limousine.

• After hearing the first gunshot and seeing President Kennedy slump, he leaped onto the back of the presidential car, using the handrail to pull himself aboard, and shielded Mrs. Kennedy from harm.

• As the limousine sped toward Parkland Memorial Hospital, Hill placed his body over President Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy, attempting to protect them from further shots.

• He later testified before the Warren Commission about his actions that day.

• The iconic moment is immortalized in the Zapruder film and many photographs of the assassination.

• Despite his heroic actions, Hill was haunted by guilt for decades—he believed that if he had arrived a fraction of a second sooner, he might have prevented the fatal shot.

Writings & Later Life

• Books & Memoirs
  After retiring, Hill co-authored several books, sharing his personal insights and accounts of his time in the Secret Service:

  • Mrs. Kennedy and Me (2012)

  • Five Days in November (2013)

  • Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford (2016)

• Public Recognition
  In December 2013, the U.S. Secret Service honored him by dedicating a street in the James J. Rowley Training Center as “Clint Hill Way.” In 2018, he received the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award from the state of North Dakota, honoring his public service.

• Personal Life
  At the time of the Kennedy assassination, Hill was married to Gwen, and they had two sons. Lisa McCubbin, who co-authored some of his books.

• Death
  Clint Hill passed away in his home in Belvedere, California, on February 21, 2025, at the age of 93.

Legacy & Significance

Clint Hill’s legacy is profound in multiple regards:

1. Symbol of protective service courage
   His decision to risk his life during the assassination became a defining image of duty and selflessness, and it remains one of the most enduring visuals from that tragic day.

2. Witness & narrator of history
   Because he was there, Hill’s testimony and writings offer a first-person perspective on one of the most significant events in 20th-century American history.

3. Human side of public service
   His lifelong struggle with guilt and trauma highlights the emotional burden that often lies unseen behind acts of public duty.

4. Influence on culture & media
   The 1993 film In the Line of Fire was inspired in part by Hill’s emotional state and dedication as a Secret Service agent.

5. Enduring respect in the Secret Service
   His career trajectory and recognition (such as the plaque, awards, and honors) reflect the esteem in which he is held within the protective services community.

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