Jefferson was generally anti-tariff by the standards of his era. You must be referring to the administration's big trade-policy episode, the Embargo Act of 1807.
Despite that, Jefferson's presidency still has a remarkably strong Rothbardian résumé:
- Reduced federal spending substantially.
- Reduced the national debt.
- Cut military expenditures.
- Allowed the First Bank's charter to expire rather than perpetuating centralized banking.
- Generally favored decentralized government and strict constitutional limits.
- Opposed Hamiltonian fiscal/financial institutions.
But the Embargo is a major black mark. If we're being strictly Rothbardian, I'd probably put Jefferson as A-minus/B-plus territory, rather than an unambiguous A.
