Empathy. Pt. 2 (An Account of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy)

(See Pt. 1)

Clint Hill, Jackie Kennedy’s personal Secret Service agent, was riding in a staff car that day; immediately behind the Presidential Limousine. The president had not only instructed Jackie to remove her sunglasses, but that no Secret Service agents run alongside, or sit on the fender jump seat of ‘White House One.’ Jack was all too aware of the 1964 national election, and he was determined to present an air of openness and availability to the potential voters which surrounded him.

As with his first inauguration, thousands of Texas citizens had turned out in Dallas that day. And in spite of President Kennedy’s instructions, Secret Service Agent Hill ran back and forth between the two cars; at times trotting next to the long, black limo, at times sitting on the back fender; but mostly riding in the follow up vehicle. Strangely enough, (and much to his relief) JFK never objected to the obvious breach of his earlier instructions, but continued to smile and wave at the crowd.

And then that fatal shot.

Clint Hill has always regretted not having been closer to the presidential couple during the course of the three (some say two) shots. Having witnessed Jack Kennedy’s response to the first shot, as his hands shot to his throat, Jackie’s agent hopped to the street, and dashed towards the truck of the limousine. During those fatal few seconds, JFK was struck again. 

A fatal head wound. In his book, “Mrs. Kennedy and me” (which I have read cover to cover) and in subsequent interviews, Mr. Hill speaks to the absolute horror of that day. He displays little, if any sensitivity when he relates how that when the subsequent bullet slammed into the president’s head, the sound which echoed throughout Dealey Plaza was much like that of a machete against the surface of a ripe watermelon.

By the time the courageous agent reached the fender of the limo, Mrs. Kennedy had crawled onto the truck; in a misguided effort to retrieve a piece of her husband’s skull. The Zapruder film records the entire sequence of events in all its gory glory. Ultimately, Agent Hill managed to push or drag Jackie Kennedy into the back seat, and covered the president and his wife with his body.

The first (and thus far, the only) president who has been assassinated during the watch of the Secret Service, (and the most profound, and enduring regret of Agent Clint Hill’s life).

(To be continued)

 By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 40. Copyright pending

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