President Clinton offered a compromise yesterday on background checks for gun purchases, a move he called "a gesture of good faith" designed to revive negotiations with Congress on his stalled gun safety legislation.

In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry J. Hyde (R., Ill.), Clinton proposed retaining records from background checks for 90 days, rather than the current requirement of 180 days. Hyde last week proposed that the records be destroyed immediately after a buyer has cleared a background check.

"As a gesture of good faith, I am willing to meet you halfway on this important issue," Clinton wrote to Hyde. "I hope this step will help break the current logjam, and bring your colleagues back to the conference table."

Hyde, away from Congress for the Easter recess, was not immediately available for comment. However, the National Rifle Association said Clinton's proposal was unacceptable.