The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains a pivotal moment in American history, etched in the nation’s memory through a series of indelible images. Among these is the striking photograph of a Secret Service agent vaulting onto the back of the presidential limousine moments after the shots rang out in Dealey Plaza. That agent was Clint Hill, a name synonymous with bravery and the tragic events of that day. Sixty years later, at 91 years old, Clint Hill reflects on the event that forever changed his life and cemented his place in history, not just as Clint Hill, but as “the man who climbed onto the president’s car.”
“Before Dallas, I was known as just Clint Hill,” he recounted in a Radio Diaries interview. “After that, I’ve been known as the man who climbed onto the president’s car. That six-second period in Dallas, it’s not an easy thing to live with.” This candid reflection underscores the profound personal impact of those harrowing seconds and the enduring legacy of Clint Hill’s Secret Service career, inextricably linked to the Kennedy assassination.
From “Hey, Agent!” to Personal Connection: Clint Hill’s Early Secret Service Career
Clint Hill’s assignment to the Secret Service detail of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1960 marked a significant shift from the impersonal interactions he experienced with previous administrations. He noted the stark contrast in presidential demeanor, recalling, “Eisenhower, when he would refer to us agents, that was just, ‘Hey, agent!'” In sharp contrast, President Kennedy fostered a more personal connection with his security detail. “With Kennedy, he knew your first name. He knew if you were married. He knew if you had children. And he would stop, and he would talk to you,” Hill explained. This personal touch cultivated a deep sense of respect and loyalty among the Secret Service agents, including Clint Hill, who were dedicated to protecting the First Family.
Dallas, 1963: A Day of Excitement Turned to Tragedy for Secret Service Agent Clint Hill
President Kennedy’s trip to Dallas in November 1963 was part of a campaign swing intended to build support for the upcoming 1964 election. The arrival at Dallas Love Field was met with enthusiastic crowds, a scene that amplified as the presidential motorcade proceeded through the city. “By the time we got to Main [Street], the crowd was so large they could not be contained on the sidewalks,” Hill remembered. “People were hanging out of windows. They were on top of buildings. They were on fire escapes. Any place they could be to see the president and first lady.”
Positioned on the running board of the Secret Service follow-up car, directly behind the presidential limousine, Clint Hill was in close proximity to the unfolding events. The festive atmosphere abruptly shattered as they entered Dealey Plaza. “I heard a loud noise over my right shoulder,” Hill recounted, detailing the moment that changed everything. “I didn’t think at first it was a gunshot. I thought it was a firecracker or something. But when I saw the president’s reaction, I knew that was not normal. I mean, he threw his hands to his throat and started to fall to his left.”
The Leap of Bravery: Clint Hill’s Immediate Response to the JFK Assassination Shots
Reacting instantly to the unfolding crisis, Secret Service agent Clint Hill acted decisively. “I immediately ran from the follow-up car and onto the back of the presidential limousine,” he described. As he scrambled onto the vehicle, a second shot rang out, fatally striking President Kennedy. In the chaos, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, in a state of shock and distress, moved towards the trunk of the limousine. Hill, upon reaching the back of the car, guided her back into the vehicle, shielding both her and the mortally wounded president with his body as the limousine accelerated towards Parkland Memorial Hospital.
“I thought, ‘This wound is not survivable,'” Hill confessed, reflecting on the grim reality of the president’s condition. “I didn’t think he had a chance.” His heroic actions in those critical moments, while ultimately unable to save President Kennedy, became a symbol of dedication and courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
The Weight of Guilt and Post-Traumatic Stress: Clint Hill After the Assassination
In the aftermath of the assassination, Clint Hill was consumed by guilt and self-reproach. He vividly recalled in his book, Five Days in November, the poignant scene of accompanying Jacqueline Kennedy, still wearing her blood-stained clothes, to Lyndon B. Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony aboard Air Force One. “As I look at her face, streaked with tears, her eyes so hollow and lifeless, a wave of guilt and shame washes over me,” Hill wrote. “How did I let this happen to her?”
This profound sense of responsibility and failure haunted Hill in the years that followed. Despite continuing his Secret Service duties, serving three subsequent presidents after completing his assignment with Mrs. Kennedy in 1964, the emotional scars of Dallas remained. “We received no counseling at all,” Hill revealed, highlighting the lack of mental health support common at the time. “There was no PTSD in those days.”
By 1975, the accumulated emotional toll manifested in physical health issues, leading to his forced retirement from the Secret Service at the age of 43. “It was all aftermath of the Kennedy assassination,” Hill stated. “I then went into an extreme depressed state at my home in Virginia. I lived on two packs of cigarettes a day and a bottle of scotch. That’s how I slept.” This period of intense personal struggle underscores the long-lasting impact of the trauma he endured.
Facing the Past: Clint Hill’s Journey to Publicly Discuss the JFK Assassination
In 1975, Clint Hill broke his public silence, appearing on 60 Minutes for an interview with Mike Wallace. This marked the first time he had spoken publicly about the assassination since his testimony to the Warren Commission in 1964. Despite Wallace’s praise, recognizing Hill as a hero who saved Jacqueline Kennedy, Hill remained self-critical, fixated on what he perceived as his shortcomings. “Had I turned in a different direction, I’d have made it,” Hill lamented in the interview, still burdened by the belief that he could have reacted faster.
Hero or Dedicated Agent? Clint Hill’s Legacy and Reflection
Even today, Clint Hill grapples with the label of “hero.” While acknowledging the impact of his actions – “Over the years, a lot of agents have said they’re agents now because they saw what I did in 1963” – he personally refrains from embracing the title, stating, “But I don’t take any comfort in being considered a hero.”
However, Clint Hill has found a path towards healing and acceptance through sharing his experiences. Collaborating with his wife, Lisa McCubbin Hill, he has co-authored four books detailing his Secret Service career, including a 60th-anniversary edition of Five Days in November. This act of sharing his story, he believes, is crucial for those struggling with PTSD. “People who have trouble with PTSD, which is what I have, the best thing they can do is find someone they trust and talk to them about what it is that’s bothering them,” Hill advises. “The more they talk about it, the better they’re going to feel.”
Clint Hill’s story is not just a historical account of a tragic day, but also a testament to the enduring human spirit, the heavy burden of trauma, and the long journey towards healing and reconciliation. His legacy as a Secret Service agent is forever intertwined with the events of November 22, 1963, a day when he became, in the eyes of history, the agent who leapt into action.
