While the foregoing
account characterizes the national tragedy which was the Kennedy Assassination,
another lesser known, personal scenario played itself out that day.
It was only in
recent years, and after the publication of Agent Clint Hill’s book, “Mrs.
Kennedy and Me” that the following reminiscence was revealed to the public.
As I have indicated
earlier, (and a fact which is well-known to my readers) Jackie refused to
change dresses or cleanse the president’s blood from her extremities for hours
after the assassination. She made the statement to someone that,
“I want them to see
what they have done to my husband.”
(I think the
identity of the ‘they’ in the preceding sentence remains a bit nebulous to this
day).
Be that as it may,
as Mrs. Kennedy sat by her beloved husband’s casket, Agent Hill joined her, and
with his usual courtesy asked whether there was anything he might do for her.
Jackie shook her
head, but responded in the most incongruous, unexpected manner.
“Oh, Mr. Hill, what will ever become of you?”
I have written about
this particular event in the past, and I am constrained to be as articulate, as
I like to believe I was at the time. Mrs. Kennedy’s question for a subordinate,
at such a time of personal loss and despair, struck me as one of the most compassionate
characterizations of caring to which I have been privy in the two thirds of a
century I have lived on this planet.
For I think
Jacqueline’s ability to transcend her own personal grief for a few seconds on
that airplane, and express her concern for the disposition and welfare of her
servant at a time, such as this, was nothing less than remarkable. And I think,
in this, our dearly departed First Lady set the standard, and acted as a role
model for the rest of us.
Suffice it to say
that Agent Clint Hill was, subsequently, assigned to Jackie’s security detail
for years after she left the White House, and that he performed his duties in
an admirable manner.
God give us all both
the consciousness and the wherewithal to emulate the character and compassion
of our former First Lady.
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
By
William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 50. Copyright pending
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
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