In addition to banning the welcoming trumpets popular with President Richard M. Nixon and other White House residents, Mr. Carter sold the Sequoia, the presidential yacht, and insisted on carrying his own luggage aboard Air Force One when traveling. He banned senior aides from using a White House car service to and from work and, during his first winter stay there, turned down the White House thermostat to 65 degrees to save energy.

Eventually, after Mr. Carter came under fire for denigrating the office’s prestige, he relented on some of these measures, recognizing that Americans wanted to inject a certain majesty into the presidency. He allowed “Hail to the Chief” to be replayed, at least in limited circumstances, even though he never bought another presidential yacht.

Mr. Carter honestly demonstrated his modesty. Even after his re-election defeat, he and Mrs. Carter returned to the simple ranch house they had built in Plains, Georgia, in 1961, and lived there for the remaining four decades of their lives. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home is valued at $241,200 on Zillow.

While other former presidents cashed in with six- and even seven-figure checks for multimillion-dollar speeches, cozy corporate appearances and other money-making ventures, Mr. Carter made most of his living writing books – 32 in all – and never lived that high life that his fellow presidents lead.

But at some point he clearly gave in to the demands of tradition and agreed to the elaborate commemorative events normally associated with a head of state. Presidents are heavily involved in planning their funerals – in Mr. Carter’s case, he was involved in the discussions for decades. He drew the line at an idea that was originally in the plans. He refused to have his remains transported by train back to Georgia for burial. Instead he is flown.