Santorum’s friends, family, enemies, and frenemies have talked about the candidate in numerous interviews going back to his first campaign for Congress, in 1990 (key sources on the early years are Philadelphia Magazine, the Philadelphia City Paper, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Here are thirteen ways of looking at Santorum’s rise from working-class Pennsylvania kid to Presidential contender, plus a bonus memory from Rick himself.

“Rick’s father was a very opinionated man. Kind, but you know how psychologists can be. They have their opinions and those are the only ones that are right.”

— Marie Rice, a close friend of the Santorum family, about Rick’s dad, Aldo Santorum. Philadelphia City Paper, September 29, 2005

“Rick wouldn’t be the guy dating the senior queen. But he was probably friends with her.”

—Larry Goettler, classmate and friend of Rick Santorum. Philadelphia City Paper, September 29, 2005

“I smoked pot and that was something that I did when I was in college… It was something that I’m not proud of, but I did.”

—Rick Santorum, Piers Morgan, 2011

“I have never had a student so blindly ambitious.”

—Bob O’Connor, Santorum’s political-science professor at Penn State. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 11, 1994

“I think in broad strokes he was conservative, but he was not strongly ideological.”

—College friend Phil English, who convinced Santorum to revive the Penn State chapter of the College Republicans. The New Republic, February 28, 2012

“Rick was very persuasive, very good, but after a couple of years, it was clear to him and to everyone else at K&L that he didn’t have a chance of making partner. He worked 40-hour weeks, which just didn’t cut it at a place like that, where your worth is determined by the number of hours you bill. He was always leaving work early to golf. One time he took off most of a Friday to drive to see Penn State play at Notre Dame.”

—An anonymous fellow-associate at Santorum’s former law firm Kirkpatrick and Lockhart. Philadelphia Magazine, December 1995

“Rick was a funny guy. He sported a bushy moustache for a time, wore Hawaiian shirts and smoked cigars. He liked to laugh, drink and call things ‘horsey-assey.’ He was very popular and fun to be around. I think the change happened when he met Karen.”

—One of Santorum’s cousins about his marriage to Karen Garver. Philadelphia City Paper, September 29, 2005

“I came home from work one day and he sat me down in the chair and presented his speech declaring his candidacy for the United States Congress. It took me by complete surprise. I figured he’d run for borough councilman or something like that first, but that’s not Rick’s style.”

—Ray Conlon, Santorum’s former roommate. Philadelphia City Paper, September 29, 2005

“If you took ‘no’ out of the English language, he would be speechless.”

—Then Senator Harris Wofford on Santorum during a debate between them before Santorum went on to win Wofford’s seat. The New Republic, October 24, 1994

“A lot tougher than Gingrich to deal with.”

—Former Senator Alan K. Simpson on Santorum’s time in the Senate. Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2012

“Santorum? Is that Latin for asshole?”

—Then Senator Bob Kerrey overheard asking another senator. Philadelphia Magazine, December 1995

”Rick Santorum is a Catholic missionary. That’s what he is. He’s a Catholic missionary who happens to be in the Senate,”

—Former Santorum aide Sean Reilly, New York Times Magazine, May 22, 2005

“Forrest Gump with an attitude.”

—Teresa Heinz Kerry, Washington Post, April 18, 2005