5 Things You Might Not Know About Sen. Ted Cruz

May 30, 2014— -- intro: ABC New’ George Stephanopoulos will have an exclusive Sunday interview with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on “This Week” upon his return from Israel and Ukraine.

Cruz, a lightning rod who has received the ire of both Republicans and Democrats during his time in the Senate (Sen. John McCain famously referred to him as a “wacko” bird before later apologizing), will just have returned from the trip when he is interviewed.

To help you prepare for the interview, we’ve compiled a list of five things you might not know about the tea party hero, who is seen as a potential contender for the 2016 Republican nomination for president. And be sure to tune in Sunday when Cruz joins Stephanopoulos live on “This Week.”

quicklist: 1title: Where was Cruz born?text: Republican Sen. Cruz of Texas, who was elected in 2012, was not born in the United States. He was actually born in Calgary, Canada, in 1970. His mother was born in Delaware. His father, now a pastor, was born in Cuba and came to the United States in 1957. As of January of this year, the senator was still a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, although he said last year he is preparing to renounce his Canadian citizenship. His eligibility for the White House, given his place of birth, has been the subject of some argument. Here’s what Cruz told ABC News’ Jon Karl during an interview last year.

“My mother was born in Wilmington, Delaware. She’s a U.S. citizen, so I’m a U.S. citizen,” Cruz said.

“I’m not going to engage in a legal debate. The facts are clear,” he added. “I can tell you where I was born and who my parents were. And then, as a legal matter, others can worry about that. I’m not going to engage.”

quicklist:2title: Where was Cruz educated?text:Cruz was educated at some of the most elite learning institutions in the country. As an undergraduate, he attended Princeton University in New Jersey and eventually went on to Harvard Law School in Massachusetts.

quicklist:3title: What about his family?text:Cruz, 43, is married and has two young daughters, Caroline and Catherine. His wife, Heidi, is, according to a New York Times profile, a vegetarian who works for the elite bank Goldman Sachs. Heidi, who worked in the Bush White House, attended Harvard Business School. The family lives in Houston.

quicklist:4title: What did Cruz do before becoming a senator?text:Cruz has not been a lifelong politician. Before election to the Senate, he was the first Hispanic solicitor general of Texas and the youngest in the nation. He was also the first Hispanic to clerk for former Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

quicklist:5title: What was it like for Cruz to argue a case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court?text:During the interview with Karl, Cruz revealed that he has a painting in his office of himself arguing a case in front of the Supreme Court at age 32. Here’s what he told Karl about that experience during the interview last year.

“It was 30 minutes of getting pounded. It was like a head of tuna being thrown to a school of sharks.” Cruz said.

“I will tell you, I have always liked the fact that I sit in my office and I look at a giant painting of me getting my tail whipped 9-0. And it is very good for instilling humility to look and see, ‘Ok, that’s what it looks like to lose.’”

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