Personal Life
Rivers married Margaret Middleton (called Marguerite by Mendel, but Marwee by family and friends) on September 1, 1938. They had first met in 1930 at Camp Kanuga, near Hendersonville, North Carolina, where Mendel impressed Marwee by being elected Best Boy Camper, despite being 24 and a law school student. The couple had three children: Peggy in 1939, Marion in 1943, and Mendel Jr. in 1947.
Rivers was an Episcopalian, and a member of the Freemasons (Landmark Lodge No.76, A.F.M.), the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), and the Exchange Club. He was an enthusiast of boxing and was friends with Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. He enjoyed playing baseball and he batted well over .300 in the Congressional baseball games.
Alcoholism plagued Rivers for much of his life. He was the "binger" variety of alcoholic, one who is generally sober but relapses periodically. Washington syndicated columnist Drew Pearson called him a "security risk" and devoted eight uncomplimentary pages to him in his 1968 book The Case Against Congress.
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