US Secret Service agent Clint Hill who leapt into action to shield former US President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy during the assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, has died at the age of 93.
Hill's family announced on Monday that he passed away peacefully at home.
Clint Hill's quick actions running to the presidential limousine and climbing aboard to shield the first couple became one of the most unforgettable moments of that tragic day. He protected Jackie Kennedy, but the thought that he could have done more to save the president stayed with him.
Hill was born in Larimore, North Dakota and served in the Secret Service under five US presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford. He was initially disappointed when assigned to the first lady’s detail in 1960, considering it a demotion. However, that role placed him at the centre of history three years later.

How did Hill save the first lady?
On the day of JFK's assassination in Dallas, Hill was on the running board of the car behind the president’s limousine. When he heard the first gunshot, he reacted instantly, sprinting towards the vehicle. Before he could reach Kennedy, two more bullets struck the president. As seen in Abraham Zapruder’s 26-second film, Hill climbed onto the moving limousine, shielding Jacqueline as she reached toward the back of the car. He then guided her back to her seat and covered both her and the mortally wounded president with his body as the motorcade rushed to Parkland Hospital.
At the hospital, Jacqueline was reluctant to let go of her husband's body until Hill removed his suit jacket and used it to cover the president’s gruesome head wound. He later helped arrange a casket and accompanied Jacqueline and the president’s body aboard Air Force One for the journey back to Washington.
'I did everything I could that day'
Though widely praised for his bravery, Hill struggled for years with guilt, believing he could have done more. In a 1976 interview with CBS' 60 Minutes, he broke down in tears, saying, “If I had reacted just a little bit quicker… I'll live with that to my grave.” Journalist Mike Wallace later described him as “the most stricken and tormented man” he had ever interviewed.
For decades, Hill battled depression, nightmares, and alcoholism, and was eventually forced to retire at 43 due to post-traumatic stress disorder. In 1990, he revisited Dealey Plaza, the site of the assassination, to confront his demons. “I did everything I could that day,” he later said, “but I still had that sense of guilt and responsibility.”

'Worldwide symbol of courage'
Hill continued to serve as a Secret Service agent after Kennedy’s assassination, protecting Jackie Kennedy for a year before being reassigned to President Johnson. He later worked under US vice president Spiro Agnew before retiring in 1975.
With his wife, journalist Lisa McCubbin Hill, he co-authored four books about his experiences: Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey With Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, Mrs. Kennedy and Me, Five Days in November, and My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy.
In a statement, the US Secret Service honoured his legacy, calling him “a worldwide symbol of courage” and praising his “unwavering dedication and exceptional service.”
Hill is survived by his wife, sons, and grandchildren. His career spanned some of the most pivotal moments in American history, including the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and Watergate.
Tributes
Tributes poured in from across the nation, honouring Hill’s bravery and dedication. Top officials and celebrities took to X to express their condolences and pay respects. Among them were Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan, British media personality Piers Morgan, White House Correspondents' Association President Kelly O'Donnell, and journalist James Rosen, all recognising Hill’s remarkable service.