(AmericanProsperity.com) – Clint Hill, the indomitable Secret Service agent, has passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with one of America’s darkest days.
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Known for his gallantry during John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Hill’s selfless act of leaping onto the presidential limousine to protect First Lady Jackie Kennedy resonated worldwide.
This courageous moment underscores the longtime dedication of our nation’s protectors.
Clint Hill hailed from North Dakota, where he spent his early years in Washburn before graduating from Concordia College in Minnesota.
Hill’s early life laid a solid foundation for his distinguished 17-year career in the Secret Service, a career that saw him serve five U.S. presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Gerald Ford.
However, his legacy is most tightly bound to November 22, 1963, when he acted with exceptional valor in Dallas, Texas, during the assassination of President Kennedy.
During the fatal shooting, Hill swiftly responded by jumping onto the presidential limousine, an action captured by the renowned Zapruder film that played an integral role in documenting those tragic few seconds.
Despite being awarded the highest civilian honor for bravery by the U.S. Treasury Department, Hill struggled for years with feelings of guilt and depression, feeling that he hadn’t done enough to save President Kennedy.
Hill’s journey through life witnessed him gaining acceptance over the events surrounding the assassination, but he struggled with this poignant burden until his final days.
Though plagued by self-blame, Hill said that later in life, he began to accept the reality that there was nothing more he could have done to change the President’s fate.
Nonetheless, many acknowledge that his prompt actions likely saved Jackie Kennedy’s life.
His post-service years consisted of co-authoring personal memoirs with Lisa McCubbin Hill, whom he married in 2021.
Their works provided an intimate perspective on serving during such pivotal times, leaving indelible insights into the profound impacts of his career.
Notably, the film “In the Line of Fire,” released in 1993, drew partial inspiration from Hill’s professional experiences.
Hill received a multitude of accolades, including North Dakota’s highest civilian honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, in 2018.
Respected figures like former Secret Service Director Lew Merletti praised Hill’s unwavering demeanor and integrity.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong described Hill as a “legendary native son,” acknowledging his unmatched loyalty and sacrifice.
“Clint Hill embodied the qualities of courage, service, and sacrifice. His loyalty to his country and his devotion to his solemn duty to protect the president continues to inspire us to this day. North Dakota has lost a legendary native son,” Armstrong said, cited by Valley News Live.
Hill passed away peacefully at home, with a private funeral service planned in Washington, D.C.
He remains an enduring symbol of the bravery and steadfast dedication of the men and women safeguarding our nation’s leaders.
IN MEMORIAM and RIP: Clint Hill, Secret Service agent who jumped onto JFK's car after the president was shot, dies at 93 https://t.co/VGHluRKhyH via @CBSNews
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) February 24, 2025
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