Madeleine Blais was a staff writer for the Trenton Times in 1976 when she was assigned to cover the Democratic Convention in New York City where Jimmy Carter claimed his party's nomination. The four days were mostly a snore -- but she created a time capsule of the week that she treasures to this day.

Mr. Carter witnessed a shift from what had been a solidly Democratic South to one that Republicans, supported by white voters and particularly evangelicals, came to dominate.

President Jimmy Carter will be eulogized by President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. on Thursday, in a service that is expected to see all five living presidents attend, including President-elect Trump, and former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.