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.

The public will be able to pay their respects to the 39th president at the U.S. Capitol until his state funeral Thursday morning.