‘92 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION : Developments at a Glance

An internecine battle over tax cuts threatened to mar the opening of the Republican convention today--and possibly derail efforts to unite the party and give President Bush a boost.

Bush dropped several hints over the weekend that he might unveil new economic proposals in his acceptance speech Thursday night. His secretary of housing and urban development, noted supply-sider Jack Kemp, predicted that the President would announce a proposal to cut income taxes.

But Senate GOP leader Bob Dole of Kansas entered the fray Sunday, declaring that tax cuts would be “bad medicine” for the economy. One official said Bush’s intentions are “the most closely guarded secret of the convention.”

Also in today’s coverage:

* California Gov. Pete Wilson, who supports abortion rights, persuaded state delegates to avoid a floor fight over the issue. The party platform, to be adopted today, calls for a constitutional ban on all abortions. Wilson urged his fellow Californians to lift their gaze to 1996. A1

* Overall, the platform is markedly more conservative than the Democrats’ document--and more conservative than Bush on some issues. The platform is likely to be signed, sealed and delivered hours before the commercial networks start televising the convention. It’s scheduled to be introduced at 12:44 p.m. CDT and officially approved by 1:27 p.m. A7

* Bush’s erstwhile conservative challenger, Patrick J. Buchanan, arrived in Houston and did something completely different: He didn’t say a word to reporters. In his speech tonight, he will endorse Bush and bash Democratic nominee Bill Clinton--but what else he will say is a secret. A8

* Bush’s political benefactor, former President Ronald Reagan, will speak after Buchanan. But whether he can pick his former vice president up off the political floor is problematic. “He’s the past and voters are looking to the future,” said Edward J. Rollins, Reagan’s 1984 campaign manager. A8

* The convention will serve as a giant commercial for Bush--that is, if everything goes according to plan. Experience, trust and traditional values will be among the hoped-for messages. But this year, the Republicans seem less adept than usual at getting their theme across. The camera sight lines are less than ideal, for example. And, perhaps more worrisome, the party may not be able to review all the speeches beforehand to be sure they hit the same note. TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS

Patrick J. Buchanan speech 6:50-7:15 p.m. PDT

Ronald Reagan speech 7:20 p.m. PDT