The nation paused to honor Jimmy Carter for his service as a naval officer, governor and president, and his four decades of humanitarian work after leaving the White House.

At a pomp-filled state funeral, mourners paid tribute to Mr. Carter and argued that he was a more successful leader than many remember. “It’s time to redeem his presidency,” a former aide said.

Mary Elizabeth King was running a group designed to boost the paltry number of women in the top ranks of the federal government. And Joan Claybrook was one of Ralph Nader’s Raiders, the cadre of lawyers and researchers around the country pushing for consumer protections.