As concerns the statement
I would suggest that the people are a more immutable segment than government; and that collectively over time are much more subject to reason in favor of the national interest than government.
I can't say that that is wrong, and I don't think CvC would quibble. The critical qualifier is "collectively over time." This in no way undermines the observation as the people being the source of passion.

a.) Passion/emotion is extremely important and does exist.
b.) The source of that passion is not the government or the military.

CvC never said that people might not see reason. By 1944, Hitler was patently more irrational/unreasonable than the German people, but a a lot had happened to get to that point. It was certainly the opposite in 1936.