to work.

>> former secret service agent, clint hill to recalls his four years he was assigned to protect her, including actions to show the first lady from the immediately following the assassination of president kennedy on november 20 spectate come in 1863. this is about 40 minutes. >> good evening, everyone. thank you for joining us. our special guest tonight is an exceptional figure in american

history. although he has been cited for bravery and courage, his place in history is one he would most certainly never wish another soul. from november 20 spectate come in 1863, now coming close to 50 years ago, he was part of his secret service detail assigned to protect president and mrs. john f. kennedy. the assassination of president kennedy on that day in dallas put our guests in the iconic film frames from a photographic images and collective memories that record and recall one of the most genetic moments in our countries history. a history known viscerally to anyone living at that time and sure to be known by generations to come. what is less known about our guest is on the tragic day and for three years before and almost a year afterwards, he was assigned to jacqueline kennedy, not the president and it is that

special assignment to guard an intensely private first lady than former first lady that is the subject of his new book, "mrs. kennedy and me." tonight we are pleased the co-author of mrs. kennedy in me, lisa mccubbin joined the conversation. they said co-authored the book, the kennedy detail and its award-winning journalist and tv news anchor and reporter. please join me in welcoming, lisa mccubbin and clint hill. [applause] >> thank you so much for coming out tonight. great to see you all here. what we would like to do tonight is sort of have an informal conversation with clint hill and i'll ask i'll ask them questions and he'll share some stories that you and then we will open it up to questions than answers and he's very willing to answer whatever questions you have.

trust me, he's heard them all. so don't be shy. so mr. hello, i call him clint go. everybody wants to know first that i've come away so many years you were silent about this subject and you didn't do any interviews. you just didn't talk about the series that the kennedys. why is this stage of your life did you decide to write a book? >> i doubt i would never write a book, contribute to a book and then a friend of mine who is a former agent decided to write a book and he enlisted my assistant by asking me to contribute any hired you as this writer and he introduced you to name and over a period of time i

began to trust you enough confidence he would elicit his information from me that i didn't think i'd ever release and i found that his brother are to do so. then come i have some friends who are former reporters in the white house and they retired, that they were in the 1960s. and they said although they covered her, they would never interview her and they never really knew her. they said why don't you who really didn't know her and all her time document that period of time and put it down in history. and i realized that the information i did have was that historical significance and maybe it was a good idea. then simon and schuster came to us and suggested we read a book and so that's how this book develops. >> i have to study was a really

awarded next areas for me. i don't think we ever had one fight. we work very well together and i felt very privileged to have this prayer when no into those years and to be able to just kind of relive it with client. and so is really wonderful for me as well. so we started off the boat, we decided to start from the beginning when clint was first told he was going to be assigned to mrs. kennedy. president john f. kennedy had just been elected and it was november, 1960. clint was 28 years old. how did you feel when you're told you're going are going to be assigned to jacqueline kennedy? >> i was really disappointed. i was devastated because they been with president eisenhower. we've been all over the world and i have seen the relationship

that first ladies had in the act dvds they participated in and i knew was either going to be fashion shows, tea parties, ballet school and i didn't want any part of that. i wanted to be where the action was, so i was extremely far and didn't sign that mrs. kennedy on the right after the election in november 1960. at her residence in georgetown near washington d.c. and she was an elegant, classy lady, extremely poignant and she was not to plea she was going to have somebody around her 24 hours a day and i was not too pleased that i was going to be part of that group. so at first, it is not a mutual at duration, but over time we became good friends. >> i think people might be

interested to know that at that time there were only two agents assigned to the first lady. so there is client and another agent and they were in charge of protect teen her around-the-clock. see what exactly working a 40 hour workweek, is that correct click >> that's correct. we didn't get paid overtime. but it was a great experience and is a great responsibility because i was assigned to take care and protect the wife of the president of the united states and look after his children. so i had the hanging over my head all the time. >> what kinds of things needed in the end be such a great assignment? >> a lot of people don't know, but mrs. kennedy loves to ride horses and she was an accomplished equestrian.

she loved to play tennis. she loved to water ski. she played golf. and she walked and walked and walked. and i had to be a part of that all the time. we didn't have a great deal of water. i had no ability playing tennis whatsoever, so i started out as they can sleep in office and everything she did and it was rather have avid fan. >> well, you also had some pretty nice places to go to. the places where she spent her time, tell us we spent most of your time when you are retired, away from the white house. >> we were away from the white house a great deal. it was rather routine schedule that they had as a family, the

kennedys and the sun or from memorial day, fourth of july, labor day and thanksgiving we would always be in hyannisport, massachusetts. for chris vance, new year's, easter is palm beach, florida. and in between, they'll be set up a sin up a sinister virginia where he spent weekends in the country. and in the summer, mrs. kennedy always liked to go on a cruise and so we cruised the mediterranean. and in 1961, we report the northwind, off the coast of greece. and 62 we spent part of his summer in italy aboard the yacht and had a bit and 63 we were -- spent the time in the greek islands have been a turkey on

board the massive yacht, christina ended 64 we also spent some time in the mediterranean aboard the yacht yacht called the radiant. so for a summer is, all mediterranean. not bad for a kid in north dakota. >> and when he traveled all over the world, she was extremely pot dealer. -- popular. tell us about those environments when he shoots you in another agent most of the time. >> the first lady, whatever we traveled abroad generated a crowd equivalent to or larger than the president. when she was with the president come across a double.

which was by her self, she would have at least as many people as the president whether pears or not a or in karachi or new delhi, did matter. no matter where we were, the crowds were massive. and then, to top that off, when she was in a country such as france or in south america, she spoke the native language and that really made her popular. and so those crowds greeted problems for us and we really had to rely on the local governments to assist us to keep the crowds under control. >> analysis would've curtailed the things that she enjoyed doing. you tell a great story in the book about what happened when she decided to go shopping on north avenue in palm beach. >> she decided she went on to

north avenue of the shops were in palm beach. and yes -- you do not no problem, so i took her down there and we went down the street. when into the store. immediately the clerks recognized her, customers recognized her. the word now. people in the street began to mass and it became apparent this was not going to work. and when we finished we got back in the car and it came to be realized as she and i myself that from this point on i was not going to be the way it was. so i became the shopper, which met when she needs something i wanted something, i would go and buy it. i kept her away from the pop list. >> some makeup at elizabeth

arden, sweat and trucks for the president at abercrombie and fitch, right? >> elizabeth arden agreed to come to the house. i didn't have to go there. >> center in new york city, one of show everyone the places you go to a new york city and had the opportunity to go with her to. >> well, she loves new york city. 76 anonymous in an apartment there in the 34th floor, beautiful place, wonderful hotel. she looked at various restaurants here in new york like the party have become a french restaurant that i understand no longer exists. please decide that the various museums here in new york city. and she was central park, but she was unable to really go into central park because of the crowd problem. >> so you know, as we were being

introduced, the thing that people know you missed for that day in dallas. i'm always tried to make us put, you know, as much about the good times is the bad times, of course that was the day that changed everything. so can you take us back to that day on november 22nd, 1963? >> yes, that's the date that was the end of the age of innocence. it was a day that there was a beautiful sunny day in dallas and the crowds were extremely large. they're on both sides of the main street of dallas. before hanging out of windows, balconies, ripped abs. there is no central air conditioning really at that time in 1863, so most of the buildings had windows open. and then there were so responsive and respectful.

governor, mrs. conway. they were driving through downtown dallas omnis tree, turn right and houston. the crowds kind of dropped off and we went down about iraq. about two blocks, cut to a street called on the street, how to turn left. outside the texas school book depository. we made a very sharp left turn and as we proceed down on the cut 8200 feet from the intersection. i rescanning to the left the grassy area and i heard an explosive noise from the right rear. it was over my right shoulder. i scanned immediately to my right nsa did that come in the ice pass the rear of the presidential vehicle. but i thought was the president grabbed at his throat and move to his left. i realized something had happened to him.

he was in trouble now is in the car immediately behind the presidential vehicle on the left-hand side. so i jump from a car, the running board and started to run. i want to get on top of the presidential vehicle, placed myself over the top of president and mrs. kennedy as a show so nothing further could be done to them. they tell me what is right and there is a second shot. i didn't hear it because i was running. just before i got to the car there is it her chat. hit the president in a head just about the right ear. there is a massive room, brain matter, blood. all over the car, all over myself. by then, lunging trying to get on top of the car. the driver accelerated. i slipped, and as i got up there mrs. kennedy came out of the truck. she came onto the trunk trying to retrieve some material that

came out of the president said and gone off to the right rear. she didn't even know i was fair. i grabbed her, help her get back into the sea. when i did that, the president's body fell to the left into the seat. i could see his eyes were fixed and a gaping hole in the upper right rear of his head. i could see right into the brain of his head. looks like somebody had taken a scoop or spoon in there and removed a bunch of brain matter. mrs. kennedy screamed, jack, jack, what if they done? they shot his hat off. i beat on the trunk of the car, at the same time a screamed at the driver to get us to a hospital. he got us to parkland hospital, where we arrived shortly after the incident occurred.

>> well, so many people have said you were a hero that day. i know you don't like a terminal, but i think everybody's sort of tries to put themselves in your shoes and wonders, would they be able to do the same thing. and we applaud you for your actions that day. thank you. [applause] so, now i guess we'd like to open up to some questions. >> absolutely. >> okay, we'll start in the front row. audio mac [inaudible] >> she really didn't accept interviews in the president. >> she was so private. she wasn't the one that was a lot dead.

>> she didn't quite understand what everybody was fighting over her. >> yes, sir. >> when you heard the headshot, can you make an opinion about where it came from? >> in my opinion -- [inaudible] >> i don't think there's any question about that. i'm quite sure that's exactly where it came from. what i heard, saw -- everything indicates that's exactly where it came from. >> yes, sir.

>> i want to say one thing. [inaudible] -- february 12, night team 81. he said to me harry, i still have the images in my mind and i'm very happy to see the you explain this to your question about going over the automobile [inaudible] >> i think he said to me >> is something that will never leave me.

it is embedded in my mind and their something every day that reminds me. one of the images i haven't seen the president played in his wife's lap in the back of the car. issue something that will never go away. i know that. >> yes, ma'am. >> was there something you're up bringing that meets you learn? >> i think he was born but that nature. >> i have no idea. i was born in northbridge and i only became an agent after i'd been in the army as a special agent of counterintelligence. i like that, the investigative work and i had some work, like they did. an extremely small organization at the time. 269 agents worldwide tennis is

very difficult to get in unless someone retired or died. as someone retired, luckily i got that spot, so it is very fortunate. >> i also think i want to throw something here because i know a lot about his life and this is in the book, but it's something a lot of people don't know is that clinton's adoptive mother was severely hearing in paired. i think he grew up being very project tip of her and, you know, growing up in that environment, i think he has that sense about him that he wants to protect those around him that he cares about. is that fair linux >> that's a fair statement. my mother was hearing-impaired. we tried to look after his best they could. she was a great cd. you can see when i come to new york city so that different. >> article over here.

yes commissary. >> she would lose her have said that day in dallas. powerful enemies in and out of government were determined. >> i don't think we would've gone to dallas if i were the case. there is nothing to indicate who are going to a series of problems. there is no intelligence from anyone. one, ambassador adlai stevens had been there and he didn't spit on when he was getting into a car. the second incident was a retired general, very conservative retired general sitting in his office one day and somebody shot him and tried to kill him, goodness. just turned out that after the assassination of president

kennedy and the rifle used was located, ballistic tests were run. it's the same rifle that was used in an attempt to kill general walker. >> yes commissary. it's [inaudible] >> specifically come professionally, just to keep in touch with the kennedys? >> after i left her, i stayed until 1964, one year after the assassination. i was given that responsibility. then i went back to the white house detail. and during the next four years, periodically i would hear from her. mostly about the children, about something that was going to happen. she asked the secretary of the treasury in a letter that if she

traveled abroad, would they make me available to go with them? another have been, but that's what she additionally requested. then last time i saw her was after robert kennedy was killed i saw her at his funeral here in new york and washington. >> yes commissary. [inaudible] >> and my case, id. at president eisenhower. i was called back to washington from augusta, georgia where you are after the election in 1960. i was called aside and said to come back and report to the chief. i thought i done something wrong. i went into his office. the deputy chief and assistant chief insurance that shares

started to interview me and i didn't know why. they never did tell me they were interviewing me for that job. but after 90 minute they conferred after that question means, just off anonymous terrible. they came to me and said you're going to be eckstein to mrs. kennedy, which i had been hit in the gut because i didn't want that job. >> yes, over here, sir. >> was lyndon johnson sworn in on the plane just before it takes off back to washington. in that photo, mrs. kennedy is on the photo one point. the narrative was intentioned as a result of the. to have any idea how that came about, not so much whether there was or wasn't --

>> we were on the ground in dallas. the decision was made that then vice president johnson should be sworn in water on the ground before we took in to washington. so we had to find better judge to do that. we found one. then, mrs. kennedy was approached to perhaps wanting -- did you want to clean up and she refused to do so. so she stood beside vice president as she took oath about as. you can't seem in the photograph, but i'm immediately behind the doorway with colonel james ford bell and we stood and observed the new president is sworn in. everybody had a different job after that happened on that aircraft.

mrs. kennedy was in the back of the aircraft the entire time. kenny o'donnell. i was in the forward part of the aircraft, trying to make sure we were going to do and what to washington because the decision had been made about where the autopsy was going to be at the naval facility. with that is going to be at the walter reid army hospital. but i would be at the naval facility. a lot of decisions like that with radio traffic. for the most part, she was very occupied in the rear portion of the aircraft with the body was laid or the president and his staff, president johnson, were busy trying to arrange things with the good industry shame. >> next, was there one back here?

[inaudible] >> assailing lot on by gianni nally and he got the yard to the amount of the area we were there in 1962 and permitted her to use it and she had a wonderful time on that yacht. give her a great amount of privacy to go various places. she enjoyed it very much. >> what do you think she is saying there and that shot? >> probably to keep the press away. >> was there much conversation or did the shock sideband? >> she was in shock the moment the incident occurred. >> i was on the phone with

washington almost the entire time. the agent working was with mrs. kennedy between the two trauma rooms and she was in and out on various sides. [inaudible] >> very well received. all the members of the secret service have gotten around to almost every office -- major office in the secret service and talk about that a bear of very pleased pleased with the information obtained. >> from the secret service we've had nothing but very favorable response, which was very nice. yes commissary.

>> in fact been 20 times, the discovery channel decided they wanted to do a documentary based on the book, the kennedy detail. that we as agents had never discussed the assassination, neither with the family for ourselves, just one of those we wanted to talk about. when jerry blaine started writing up the, she got information from all kinds of agents involved. and when they put the information together, they decided to do the documentary and decided to have a reunion of all the agents. it would be nice to get together and really have a chance to talk about it.

i'm not so we did in dallas, what is very emotional, but we did it. >> yes commissary. idl mac >> i'm the one who did speak to robert kennedy. i was on the phone with the white house. they have a recall of white house switchboard or travels with us that connects us to the dallas white house to white house washington. i was talking to my boss. the attorney general got on the phone and said, what is happening down there? and the governor had been shot, president had been shot and he had really no knowledge exactly how serious this was. it is my understanding that jay edgar hoover they simply said

the president's been shot and didn't give him any additional information. so when i attacked him, he was curious what the situation was. they asked how serious is that? i did one of time. i simply said, it's as bad as they can get and that's how we found out. >> yes commissary. [inaudible] >> when i came in the service i was an intelligence agent said the background of investigation. that is what gave me the opportunity. during my first year at the

secret service, i was required to go back to the white house for a 30 day of vibration period, which time they put this through various jobs in the white house detail and see through the kind of person they want on a permanent recess. thereafter as personally assigned to the white house i never left. >> yes, and the back there. >> it's now publicized of the impact is all sustainable. >> none whatsoever. we never discussed it. the president never asked about my life and i never asked about his. we didn't have any of those conversations. i was not aware of anything going on.

>> the first african-american -- actually didn't have for a matinee of the quiet honest are the first is charlie gibbons here in new york city. he worked mostly under nus extremely capable. he died about six months ago. and then gradually they just came on board. rob faison who was on the detail in texas that day. he happened to be working the midnight shift. so it's a fully integrated organization. right now the great emperor government agents. i wish they had been in my day

because it would have helped me when i went to certain stores. >> yes, ma'am. >> i am fully retired. it's been very cathartic, very beneficial. i'm very glad that i did it. i [inaudible] >> i did see caroline laughed at sober up in boston at the library and we had a nice conversation with terry. introduced her and we told her

about this book being written. no problem with that whatsoever. wonderful young lady. >> yes, ma'am. [inaudible] >> same number of agents that day in dallas. you have to understand that in those days there were 34 agents assigned. at any one time there are five h. and, plus the driver and supervisor. that was it. there is one shift at the next africa did this thought we were going to, for example that day they would've been awaiting our arrival. so, the number of people with very limited.

we arrived on the local state government officials, dallas police department, that kind of thing, they do an outstanding job under everything. >> yes commissary. >> you guys are taking care of. [inaudible] >> we were given $12 a day for room, board, laundry, dry cleaning, anything else

required. >> i was on air force one. i left the white house the morning of the 21st. on the way there with the aircraft we went to san antonio, t. houston. he went from houston to fort worth after midnight. we hadn't eaten since lunch because we were on the go all the time. it was not unusual. we usually had a pack of peanuts in our pocket. that was about it. >> the problem was there usually when enough people. >> one or two more questions. yes commissary.

>> is there anything we don't know do you or anyone else is not telling us? >> there is nothing that i am aware of that hasn't been revealed. all the information is out there. the only thing i am aware of his tax information. i understand there was some law to require that particular information to not be revealed. more than enough. >> andre. you haven't we heard from? yes, sir. [inaudible] >> i was thrown to them is very

when i was about six, 78 years old. >> thank you all very much. [applause] >> what are you reading this summer? booktv wants to know. >> i am an avid reader and this summer i am focused on chris matthew's new book, a personal presidential favor of mine, john kennedy. i have a book here, jack kennedy, elusive hero. one of the great things about being chairman of the caucus is that we get to bring people into talk about their books undercut chris not to send. he also came and spoke at the

library of congress, with all of the spouses as well and what was an incredible evening were people that choice questions, it satoru and see the personal side of jack kennedy and mathews, which on such incredible research and interviews. it is a book you can read over and over again. very appropriate for summer reading, especially the president kennedy's affinity and love for the fees as well. all we need is to read it and we'd be okay. so that is one of the books i'm reading. another person is in our caucus has been glorious decay can, who has been the assassins of the turquoise palace. again, an extraordinary book was come before our caucus now. her own personal story as someone who grew up in iran, a

woman of jewish descent who grew up in iran, whose family had to flee. but while this is fiction, as the old saying goes, more true is that infection and then not and especially with the assassination attempt that took place in germany but she chronicles so well in their. also the relevance today, especially as we look at our dealings with iran, a revealing look at the culture and that the system and current regime in iran as well. this is fiction, then make for interesting reading. something that is certainly