An agent of the US Secret Service, who jumped on John F Kennedy's limousine when he was firing in Dallas, was depicted in famous photos of one of the most dramatic events in US history, died at the age of 93.
Later, Clint Hill became the author of bestsellers, but has been persecuted for decades of blame for Kennedy's murder.
Hill died at his home in California on Friday, according to a statement by his publicist.
On November 22, 1963, he was appointed to protect President Jacqueline Kennedy's wife.
Hill drove a car behind Kennedy's limousine as the first shot erupted.
He immediately rushed to the couple and began to climb the back of the limo as the shooting continued.
Hill's actions during the murder were filmed in the movie “Zapruder” – an amateur home video that provided one of the best recordings in the photos.
Hill, originally from North Dakota, served in the army before joining the secret service in 1958.
He received an award for his actions in Dallas and eventually rose to become an assistant director of the secret service.
The trauma he experienced during the murder caused him to retire early by the agency in 1975, at the age of 43.
He had convinced himself that he could save Kennedy's life, and shortly after retirement, he told CBS for 60 minutes that he felt responsible.
“If I had reacted about five tenths a second faster, maybe a second faster, I wouldn't be here today,” Hill said.
“You mean you would get there and would you take a shot?” asked interviewer Mike Wallace.
“Yes, sir … that would be good with me,” Hill replied.
“I have a great fault for that,” he said. “If I turned in another direction, I would do it. It is my fault.”
Over the years, the former secret service agent said later to a documentary, he returned to Dallas, eventually concluding that he could not save Kennedy's life.
Hill met with journalist Lisa McUubin in 2009 and collaborated on a bestseller memoir, Da Kennedy and me.
It was the first of the series of books, and Hill and McUbin fell in love. The couple married in 2021
A statement from the publisher said that Hill died at home with his wife next to him. The cause of death was not given.