The Times was not alone in this policy. The Washington Post regularly referred to Ali as Clay; a June 1970 headline in The Post read “Clay Set to Make Boxing Comeback." In April 1966, Sports Illustrated’s cover read “Cassius Clay, the Man, the Muslim, the Mystery,” though by July 1967 he was referred to as Ali on the cover and inside the magazine.

Lipsyte recalled that he once told Ali about the papers calling him Clay, “I feel sorry about this, but this is out of my control.” Ali responded, “Don’t worry, you’re just a little brother of the white power structure.”

There was not a consistent Times policy against using Muslim names. Malcolm X, for example, was referred to by that name even in the early 1960s, and in the report of his death in 1965, though sometimes his birth name, Malcolm Little, was mentioned in passing.

In Ali’s case, change finally came in late 1970, around the time of his return to the ring after a suspension for refusing to serve in the military. On Aug. 19, a headline read “Clay Wins Round in Court Battle,” but on Aug. 24 Lipsyte wrote a column referring to him as Ali throughout. From then on, Times articles began referring to him primarily as Ali, although they usually added “also known Cassius Clay.”

“I don’t remember a real fiat from on high,” Lipsyte said. “I think it was slippage. The older desk guys go and the younger desk guys come in … ”