Clint Hill

Clint Hill
Name	Clint Hill
Caption	Hill in 2011
Birth name	Clinton J. Hill
Birth date	04 January 1932
Birth place	Larimore, North Dakota
Occupation	Secret Service agent
Spouse	Gwen Hill (m. 1958; died 2012), Lisa, McCubbin (m. 2022)

Clint Hill is a former agent of the United States Secret Service who is best known for his actions during the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. As a member of the First Lady's protective detail, he famously raced from the follow-up car and mounted the moving presidential limousine in an attempt to shield President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy after shots were fired. His career spanned the administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, during which he served on the protective details of several first families. Hill later authored several books about his experiences and has been portrayed in numerous films and documentaries about the Kennedy assassination.

Early life and education

Clinton J. Hill was born in Larimore, North Dakota, and spent his early years in Washburn, North Dakota. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he played football and participated in the ROTC program. After graduating in 1954, he served as a counterintelligence special agent in the United States Army in West Germany during the early years of the Cold War. His military service provided a foundation in security and investigation that led to his application to the United States Secret Service in 1957.

Secret Service career

Hill joined the United States Secret Service in 1958, initially assigned to the Denver field office. His exemplary performance led to a transfer to the White House protective detail in 1960, during the final year of the Eisenhower administration. He was subsequently assigned to the protective detail of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, a post he held throughout the Kennedy administration. In this role, Hill accompanied the First Family on all domestic and international trips, including state visits to France and Vienna, and developed a close professional relationship with Mrs. Kennedy.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy

On November 22, 1963, Hill was riding in the right front passenger seat of the Secret Service follow-up car directly behind the presidential limousine in the Dallas motorcade. When shots rang out in Dealey Plaza, Hill immediately leaped from the car and sprinted toward the Lincoln. He successfully mounted the moving vehicle, pushing Mrs. Kennedy back into the seat as she reached for a piece of the president's skull. Hill then shielded both the First Lady and the stricken president with his body as the car sped to Parkland Memorial Hospital. For his bravery, he received the Treasury Department's Award for Exceptional Service. The event was captured in the Zapruder film and other photographic evidence, making Hill's actions among the most analyzed of the Warren Commission investigation.

Later career and retirement

Following the assassination, Hill remained with the United States Secret Service, continuing his protective work for First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and later serving on the details of President Lyndon B. Johnson and President Richard Nixon. He was appointed Assistant Director of the Secret Service for Protective Forces in 1971, overseeing security for all protectees. After 23 years of service, Hill retired in 1975, shortly after the beginning of the Ford administration. In his post-retirement years, he has co-authored several books, including *Mrs. Kennedy and Me* and *Five Days in November*, providing a detailed insider's account of his experiences.

In popular culture

Hill's actions on November 22, 1963, have been depicted in numerous cinematic and television portrayals of the Kennedy assassination. He has been portrayed by actors such as John Finn in the film *Thirteen Days*, Marc Menard in the miniseries *The Kennedys*, and by Brett Stimely in the film *Parkland*. His story is also featured in many documentaries, including episodes of *The Men Who Killed Kennedy* and the CNN series *The Sixties*. These portrayals often focus on his heroic sprint and the profound personal impact the event had on his life.

Personal life

Hill married his first wife, Gwen, in 1958, and the couple had two sons. Gwen Hill passed away in 2012 after a long illness. In 2022, Hill married author Lisa McCubbin, with whom he has collaborated on his memoirs. For decades, he grappled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and guilt related to the assassination, feeling he could have reacted faster. He has spoken openly about these struggles in interviews and in his writings. Hill resides in Alexandria, Virginia, and remains a sought-after speaker regarding the Secret Service, presidential protection, and the events in Dallas.

Category:1932 births Category:United States Secret Service agents Category:Living people Category:People from Grand Forks County, North Dakota